21 opposition leaders attack 'ruling party' for politicisation of the 'sacrifices of the armed forces'
New Delhi, Feb 27 (IBNS): Amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan, opposition leaders of 21 parties, who met in New Delhi, on Wednesday criticised the "leaders of the ruling party" for politicization of the "sacrifices of the armed forces".
Emerging from the meeting of the Opposition parties, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said participating leaders condemned the Pulwama attack and expressed 'deep concern over the missing Indian pilot but criticised.
At a time when relationship between India and Pakistan has touched new low following the Pulwama attack, senior leaders of 21 opposition parties met in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Speaking to the media, Gandhi said: "Leaders condemned Pakistani misadventure and expressed deep concern for safety of our missing pilot."
"Leaders urged govt to take the nation into confidence on all measures to protect India's sovereignty, unity and integrity," he said.
Indian pilot goes missing:
the Indian government on Wednesday said that an Indian Air Force pilot, who engaged Pakistani jets that violated Indian airspace, is currently missing in action.
Pakistan has claimed that it has shot down two aircraft of the Indian Air Force and captured a pilot.
The neighbouring nation also released a video and claimed that it is of an Indian pilot named Abhinandan.
In response to the claims, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: "The Pakistan Air Force was detected and the Indian Air Force responded instantly. In that aerial engagement, one Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG 21 Bison of the Indian Air Force."
"The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistan side. In this engagement, we have unfortunately lost one MiG 21. The pilot is missing in action. Pakistan has claimed that he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts," he said.
Pakistan on Wednesday claimed it has shot down Indian jets as a retaliation to the Indian Air Force (IAF)'s surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) days after the Pulwama terror attack.
Pakistan Armed Forces spokesperson, Major General Asif Ghafoor, tweeted, "In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts [sic] inside Pakistani airspace. One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while other fell inside IOK. One Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground while two in the area."
Image: Congress Twitter page
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