Daijiworld Media Network - Ballia
Ballia, Oct 25: Uttar Pradesh BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh in a controversial statement on Friday stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already decided when the country would be at war with Pakistan and China.
The UP BJP chief made the statement amid the prevailing tension at the Line of Actual Control between India and China, where the two countries have massed troops. Singh linked his claim to the beginning of construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya following the Supreme Court judgment and the abrogation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution.
In a video clip on social media, it can be heard the BJP leader saying that PM Modi had already decided the date of when he would wage war with Pakistan and China just like the decisions on Ram Mandir and Article 370.
"Sambandhit tithi tai hai," he said in Hindi, claiming that a decision has been taken on the date.
Singh was speaking at an event at the home of BJP MLA Sanjay Yadav, who released the video. In his address, the BJP leader can be also heard comparing the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party workers with terrorists.
When asked about the remarks, local MP Ravindra Kushwaha said that the UP BJP president said it to boost the morale of party workers.
Singh's reported remarks appear to contradict India's stated stand. On Sunday, defence minister Rajnath Singh reiterated that India wanted to end the border tension with China while asserting that it will not allow even an inch of land to be taken away by anyone.