"Petty politics": Defence experts condemn Mehbooba Mufti's statement on Rajouri attack

Targeting the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and PDP chief, Mehbooba Mufti, over her statement on the loss of lives of five Army personnel in an encounter with terrorists in Rajouri, Maj Gen PK Sehgal (retd) accused the latter of denigrating India and the BJP. and condemned Mufti's statement, calling it "petty politics."

Further, Sehgal stated that maintaining the integrity of the nation sometimes comes at a price.

"Mehbuba Mufti by design and temperament is always looking for an opportunity to denigrate India, denigrate the BJP and find faults with the government. She must realise that to maintain the homogeneity of the integrity of the nation, a certain amount of price has to be paid. It is unfortunate that we lost five lives because the terrorists had all the advantages of tortuous terrain, dense jungles and very poor visibility. This, notwithstanding the complicity of the Pakistanis, stands absolutely established because they flew two drones to resupply arms and ammunition. Under the circumstances, this statement is absolutely and totally condemnable and she should not have indulged in this petty politics at all," Defence Expert PK Sehgal told ANI.

On Thursday, Mufti said, "When they (the central government) say that the situation in J&K is normal, then why are our jawans losing their lives?"

Responding to Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav's statement on the loss of lives of five Army personnel in an encounter with terrorists in Rajouri, Sehgal accused Akhilesh Yadav of falling victim to vote bank politics. He suggested that Yadav's comments were a desperate attempt to re-establish his party's standing in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.

"It's very unfortunate that Akhilesh Yadav too has fallen victim to vote bank politics; he knows that in the 2024 elections, his party stands no chance whatsoever in UP. To reestablish himself, he is making such silly statements," Defence Expert PK Sehgal told ANI.

On Thursday, SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "The number of soldiers martyred in Kashmir has increased in the last 10 years since the BJP came to power at the centre."

Five soldiers, including two Army captains, lost their lives in the Rajouri counterterrorist operations. While two terrorists, including a top LeT commander and sniper, identified as Quari, were neutralised in the counterterrorist operation. (ANI)