Military escalation or not, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) election campaign machinery does not stop. On Tuesday, February 27, Pakistan Air Force violated Indian air space in India in response to Indian counter-terrorism operations (Balakot airstrikes). As per the External Affairs Ministry, “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 fact.”
In the meanwhile, the official BJP twitter handle announced that on February 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would address party workers and supporters in what they have described as “the biggest video conference in the world.” Cadre from more than 15,000 locations across the country is scheduled to connect with PM Modi using the NaMo app.
28 फरवरी को प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी करेंगे दुनिया की सबसे बड़ी वीडियो कांफ्रेंस।
देशभर की 15,000 जगहों से पार्टी कार्यकर्ताओं, वॉलंटियर्स और समर्थकों के साथ करेंगे सीधा संवाद।
आप भी अपने सुझाव और सवाल #MeraBoothSabseMazboot के साथ साझा कर सकते हैं। pic.twitter.com/KdudF1yhyW
— BJP (@BJP4India) February 27, 2019
This 24×7 campaign mode of the BJP has been called out time again, and this occasion was no different. This particular move was called shameless, insensitive and even vulgar.
Insensitive much ? https://t.co/Y4y6gV5JzW
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) February 27, 2019
Go away please. It's vulgar and insensitive. https://t.co/1WExrUEHaq
— Vijaita Singh (@vijaita) February 27, 2019
I know there's an election looming. But, can't this wait till situation returns to normal and our IAF officer is back safe and all the families of our brave soldiers are no longer worried about the safety of their men and women on the borders? https://t.co/cQeOdrvBeU
— Maneesh Chhibber (@maneeshchhibber) February 27, 2019
Absolutely no shame whatsoever. https://t.co/eciUCt7PUV
— Bodhisattva #DalitLivesMatter 🇮🇳🏳️🌈 (@insenroy) February 27, 2019
While soldiers are dying … https://t.co/LzOKqQWWrd
— Raghav Chopra (@RaghavChopra_) February 27, 2019
Politics mat karo, desh me halat kharab hai.
Connect the dots. https://t.co/xenanFZRjb
— Airavta (@Airavta) February 27, 2019
In the middle of a war-like situation and escalating tension?!
Why not stop/postpone election speeches and campaigns?#Nationalinterest first? https://t.co/5uegtjintZ
— @rakeshfilm (Rakesh Sharma) (@rakeshfilm) February 27, 2019
The PM isn’t the only one in BJP who is in campaign mode even in the wake of looming war clouds. Hours after Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the security situation in the country along the border with Pakistan along with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval among others; he reportedly arrived in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh for a Bharatiya Janata Party function. Singh, as per reports, was overseeing preparation for the upcoming polls and meeting senior leaders and party workers there.
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