Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has cancelled his planned indefinite fast for 1 March due to Tuesday’s air strikes by the Indian Force deep into Pakistan.
Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal wrote, “In view of prevailing Indo Pak situation, I am postponing my upwas for full statehood of Delhi. We all stand as one nation today.”
In view of prevailing Indo Pak situation, I am postponing my upwas for full statehood of Delhi. We all stand as one nation today.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 26, 2019
Earlier, reacting to the Tuesday’s air strikes, billed as the Surgical Strike 2.0, Kejriwal had hailed the valour of the Indian Air Force. His tweet had read, “I salute the bravery of Indian Air Force pilots who have made us proud by striking terror targets in Pakistan.”
I salute the bravery of Indian Air Force pilots who have made us proud by striking terror targets in Pakistan
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 26, 2019
Speaking in the Delhi assembly on 23 February, Kejriwal had announced his indefinite fast to demand full statehood for Delhi.
The Indian Air Force jets on Tuesday had carried out unprecedented air strikes on terror camps across the Line of Control in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. According to reports, as many as 12 Mirage 2000 jets took part in the operation that dropped 1000 Kg bombs on terror camps across the LOC at around 3 am on Tuesday, completely destroying it.
Pakistan has denied the Indian claims adding that its Air Force was able to thwart the Indian operations. Congress President Rahul Gandhi too had tweeted congratulating the Indian Air Force.
Two eye witnesses in Balakot had told the BBC that they heard loud explosion as if an earthquake had hit the region. One eye-witness Mohammed Adil had said, “It was around 3 am when we heard a frightening sound. It was as if an earthquake has hit. We couldn’t sleep through the night. 5-10 minutes later, we came to know that an explosion has rocked the area. One of my relatives got injured and his house damaged.”
Speaking to reporters, Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had said that it was a non-military preemptive strike by India. He had said, “Credible intelligence was received that Jaish-e-Mohammed was attempting other suicide attacks in various parts of the country and the fidayeen jihadis were being trained for this purpose. In the face of imminent danger, a preemptive strike became absolutely necessary.”