When the BJP fielded Sunny Deol from Gurdaspur in Punjab as its Lok Sabha candidate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had showered praises on the actor’s love for the nation and its security.
Taking to Twitter, Modi had written, “What struck me about @iamsunnydeol is his humility and deep passion for a better India. Happy to have met him today. We are all rooting for his victory in Gurdaspur!.” He had gone on to add after meeting Sunny Deol, “We both agree: Hindustan Jindabad tha, hai, aur rahega.”
Days later, Sunny Deol has caused a huge embarrassment for Modi by publicly acknowledging that he knows nothing about India’s Balakot air strikes even though Modi has been repeatedly seeking votes by invoking this episode of India’s military incursions inside Pakistan.
In the viral video, Sunny Deol was asked if the Balakot airstrikes will help the country to stay united. The famous actor replied, “Which strikes?” When the reporter tried to explain to him, Sunny folded his hands and made a public confession, “See I don’t have knowledge of these things. I have come here to contest elections. When I win from here, I will be able to discuss many things with you then.”
The video, however, has become a topic of intense social media conversations.
Modi says cast your vote in the name of martyrs of Pulwama. Sunny Deol says what Balakot who #Balakot .Mr Modi did you not brief him he joined the party just days before election?
Say no to people in politics for self gain over serving the country.— Amiti Pande (@Amiti14) May 8, 2019
Honest candidate …!
Reporter : Aapko lagta hai Balakot strike se desh ko kuch fayada hua hai?
Sunny Deol : kya strike? koun strike? Mujhe ye sab kuch pata nahin hai. Mujhe bas chunav jeetna hai. pic.twitter.com/TqMwRJra0m
— Kamran Shahid (@iKamranShahid) May 8, 2019
Morons, Vote for Celebs who never return to their Constituency after Polls.
Sunny Deol, BJP Candidate from Gurdaspur Constituency in Punjab is Blank about #Balakot & aspires to be 1 of the Law makers in India & be seated in Parliament.
Does he deserve it ? pic.twitter.com/YuWeUXn2kK— Aarti (@aartic02) May 7, 2019