On Sunday, the Congress accused the federal government of compromising nationwide safety, based mostly on leaked WhatsApp chats of Republic’s Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami with former CEO of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) Partho Dasgupta, discussing the federal government’s response after the Pulwama assault and saying “something big will happen…bigger than a normal strike” on February 23, three days forward of the Balakot airstrikes. “On Pakistan the government is confident of striking in a way that people will be elated. Exact words used,” Goswami purportedly stated.
To which Dasgupta replied: “Good… He will sweep the polls then.” The Balakot strikes occurred on February 26.
Comments by senior political leaders from that point counsel that the federal government had been vocal a few “befitting response” from India.
On February 15, only a day after the Pulwama assault, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated at two separate occasions — the flag-off ceremony of Vande Bharat Express and at a public assembly in Jhansi – that the safety forces have been given “full freedom” to decide on a “time and place” for the “future course of action”. He promised a “muhtod jawab” (befitting reply) for the assault that killed 40 CRPF personnel.
Underlining that the nation’s “blood is boiling”, Modi stated the “terror outfits and their masters” have made “a big mistake” and “will have to pay a very heavy price” for his or her actions.
On February 16, Modi, whereas addressing a public assembly after inaugurating a number of growth tasks in north Maharashtra’s Dhule, stated, “I want to assure each family who lost their loved one that each drop of tear will be avenged.”
Then Home Minister Rajnath Singh stated on February 14, “The attack was carried out by Pakistan backed Jaish-e-Mohammed. I assure the country a strong reply will be given.”
Amit Shah, the then president of the BJP, had additionally focused Pakistan in his public addresses and asserted that the federal government will avenge the assault.
On February 17, Shah, whereas addressing a youth rally in Assam’s Lakhimpur, stated “Their [CRPF jawans’] sacrifice won’t go in vain as it’s not the Congress government which is at the Centre, it is the BJP which is at the Centre.”
Late on Sunday night time, Pakistan Foreign Ministry cited the WhatsApp chats to assert that these present proof of how this complete enterprise was “scripted”, “stoked hyper-nationalism” within the nation and “deviously” manipulated nationwide sentiment in its bid to win elections.
Responding to Pakistan’s assertion, Republic Media Network stated that it had on March 6 offered proof of the Balakot air strikes that had “deeply embarrassed the Pakistan state machinery and its intelligence apparatus”.