Were you uprooting terrorists or trees?’ Navjot Singh Sidhu on air strikes

Punjab's ruling Congress party minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday, March 4, urged the BJP-led Central government to stop politicising the army for the ruling party's political ends and questioned the Centre over the damage inflicted on the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Pakistan.

In a series of tweets, the Punjab minister questioned the Centre's motives in the actions involving the neighbouring nation and asked: "Were you uprooting terrorists or trees?'"

"Stop politicising the army for your political motives. Army is as sacred as the state! Stop deflecting the real issues, they will come back to haunt you. Job loss; Black money; 1708 terrorist acts; NPAs; Farmer Suicides.

"All this gone, because your 'so-called' propaganda war is on..", tweeted the Local Bodies Minister.

On the controversy raging over the damage inflicted on the JeM terror camp in Balakot, the former Indian cricketer, who is known for his proximity to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, said in another tweet : "300 terrorists dead, Yes or No?"

"What was the purpose then? Were you uprooting terrorists or trees? Was it an election gimmick? Deceit possesses our land in guise of fighting a foreign enemy."

Sidhu was referring to the statement by Union Minister S.S. Ahluwalia that the strikes were meant to send out a message and not to kill.