Foreign media more sacrosanct than IAF for Congress? Kapil Sibal mounts 'no proof' attack as politics picks up

The Congress has continued its politicisation and questioning of the armed forces' statement over India's strike on Pakistani terror, with former union minister Kapil Sibal issuing the most direct statement yet, citing foreign media reports and writing:

Sibal's statement follows those by a number of his partymen as well as by other opposition leaders. On Saturday, Digvijaya Singh had drawn a parallel with the US' operation in Pakistan to kill Osama Bin laden

The questioning comes despite the Indian Air Force stating in as many words when asked about the air strike on the JeM-LeT-HM's Balakot joint terror factory. Addressing a joint-briefing of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor had said:

"There is fairly credible evidence with us which proves that there was damage to the camps. Weapons hit the intended target and that they caused the damage that was intended."

The Air Vice Marshal had added:

"Whatever we intended to destroy we have got the effect that we desired. We have evidence to show that whatever we wanted to do and targets we wanted to destroy, we have done that. The decision to show the evidence is on senior leadership."

Speaking in Patna on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had accused the Opposition of demoralising the security forces and assisting Pakistan in pedalling its agenda:

Terming Pakistan as a terror factory ('Aatank ki factory'), the Prime Minister said:

"At a time when the security forces are attacking terrorists in the country and across the border, a few people from the country, rather than motivating our Jawans, are making statements which are making our enemies smile."

He added:

"Pakistani TV channels are showing their faces and these people are being applauded there. During the time when it was necessary to talk in one voice, 21 parties joined hands in Delhi to issue a statement against the NDA government. Any person having a positive approach from Bihar and the entire nation will never forgive them for this act. At this time, should we say something that will make Pakistan happy".

Pakistan has indeed been using the Opposition's statements for its gain, with Pak foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi saying the following on Pak media following the 21 Opposition parties' statement accusing the BJP of politicising the anti-terror strike:

"The 21 Opposition parties in India have also told the BJP not to play politics on this matter. The Opposition parties of India have said that BJP is using the Pulwama attack for elections, they are politicising the matter," Qureshi said.

At the other end, the Congress is also politicising the IAF's heroic Wing Commander Abhinandan who returned from Pakistan two days after falling into Pak custody as the IAF thwarted the PAF's attempted incursion into India's territory and attack on Indian military installations. Salman Khurshid took matters to another level with the following statement: