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Starting from the Uri attacks on September 18 this year, India and Pakistan’s already strained relations have become even more tense. The Indian army lost 19 of its soldiers in the attack. But soon enough, in retaliation, the Army forces conducted surgical strikes along the Line of Control on terrorist launch pads on September 28. Though this move received a heartwarming response from many in India, within the country political leaders had different takes.
WATCH | BJP Slams Rahul Gandhi For His ”Dalali” Remarks At PM Modi
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said, “Humare jawan hain jinho ne khoon diya hai, jinho ne surgical strike kiya, unke khoon ke peeche aap (PM) chhupe huye ho. Unki(jawans) aap (PM) dalali kar rahe ho. (Our jawans who sacrificed their lives, who did surgical strikes, you are hiding behind them. Pandering their blood).”
Gandhi’s remark did not go down well. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to condemn him. He wrote it was wrong on Gandhi’s part to term the brave sacrifices of the soldiers as “khoon ki dalaali”. The minister posted a video of an interview he gave in which he expounded more on his stand.
WATCH | Rahul Gandhi Hits Out At PM Modi, Says He Is Doing ‘Dalali’ Of Their Sacrifices
Kejriwal in his tweet, suggested that all political parties must forget their differences and come together to support the PM in his endeavours to combat terrorism and maintain the country’s security. Within hours of being posted, many Twitter users seemed like they had a lot to say in reply to Kejriwal.
This is Kejriwal’s tweet.
????? ????? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?? “???? ?? ?????” ????? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ?? surgical strikes ???? ???? ??? – https://t.co/pksW0FEX1S
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 7, 2016
Here are some of the reactions his tweet garnered.
@Akshay1Malhotra @ArvindKejriwal @OfficeOfRG pathetic response. I’m a Congress hater, but Rahul gandhi didn’t say army doing khoon ki dalali
— Nation First (@nationbefirst) October 7, 2016
@Akshay1Malhotra@ArvindKejriwal@OfficeOfRG This is U turn only political answer only we know well
— Patel Kamlesh (@KamleshAkshar) October 7, 2016
A Twitter user decided to simplify Kejriwal’s interview condemning Gandhi using this rather hilarious metaphor:
Arvind Kejriwal criticizing Rahul Gandhi for doubting army is like Pritam criticizing Annu Malik for copying music.
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) October 7, 2016
And this triggered a train of similar such tweets, and we tried hard to stifle a giggle.
@sagarcasm Ande khane waale Vegetarians
— The Barbarian (@AbhijeitSarraf) October 7, 2016
@sagarcasm or uday chopra giving out success tips to mimoh chakroborty
— Eric Cartman (@shashipratap85) October 7, 2016
@sagarcasm@Atheist_Krishna or like poonam pandey criticizing sunny leone for wearing sexy dress in public
— chirag nakhva ???? (@ishq1010) October 7, 2016
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Others wrote how Kejriwal was no different from Gandhi, when he questioned the army and asked for proof to confirm the surgical strikes happened at all.
.@ArvindKejriwal You have said nothing different from @OfficeOfRG by asking for proof & insulting Army. You both are disgrace to India.
— Devika (@Dayweekaa) October 7, 2016
. @ArvindKejriwal Shadow boxing with your brother? Both of you collectively epitomize everything wrong with Indian politics. Shameful
— The Masakadzas (@Nesenag) October 7, 2016
@ArvindKejriwal @Akshay1Malhotra @OfficeOfRG
Yugpurush ji, you r perfect example of U-Turn….????https://t.co/i5sWnMpjK6— Arnab Goswamy.™ (@TheRoyalPrism) October 7, 2016
While there were others who stood in solidarity with Kejriwal’s stand.
@ArvindKejriwal#AKSalutesIndianArmypic.twitter.com/2L9c39EVrd
— Rakesh K. (@AAPKA_RK) October 7, 2016
The Delhi CM’s tweet sent the entirety of Twitter scurrying to react and that they did, some funny, some outright abusive and some even poignant.