Khabardaar Pakistan: PM Modi’s last salvo

Rousing nationalistic fervour on the final day of campaigning for the

general election

in

Gujarat

, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that he had warned Pakistan of dire consequences if it harmed Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistan on February 27.


“A day after our pilot was captured, we convened a press conference and warned, ‘

Khabardaar Pakistan

!” said Modi at a massive public rally held at the Football Ground of Hemchadracharya North Gujarat University in Patan city. “I said if our pilot sustains even a scratch, don’t go complaining to the world that Modi did this.” Modi was campaigning for four North Gujarat seats: Patan, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Mehsana.


“A US spokesperson had said that India will do something big. A top US official had said that Modi had readied 12 missiles for attack,” Modi said. “Fortunately, Pakistan announced that the pilot would be sent back to India. Otherwise it would have been ‘qatal ki raat’ (a night of bloodshed).” As Modi thundered, BJP supporters let out roars of cheer.

Without naming Abhinandan in his speech, Modi said that his strong stand against terror had ensured the pilot’s safe return. “Our pilot did not come back unscathed within 24 hours just like that,” Modi said. “He came back unhurt because this son of Sardar Patel’s land is sitting in Delhi.”

Modi attacked the Congress for failing to control terrorism for four decades. He said that even till recently the Congress had been seeking proof of

India’s attack on terrorism

. “Saboot, saboot, saboot…they asked after airstrikes,” Modi said. “Now no Congress leader is asking for proof as the high command has warned against uttering this word because it angers Indians.”