BENGALURU: Caught in the crosshairs for allegedly saying that India does not need a war with Pakistan to avenge the Pahalgam attack,
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday accused BJP and the media of misquoting him with a sinister spin.
“I never said no to war against terrorism and Pakistan… What I said was that war should be the last resort, and that war is not a solution for everything. These BJPians are fools and are misquoting me. So is the media,” he said.
Speaking in Bengaluru at an event to celebrate the completion of two years of his govt, the CM said, “If forced and if war is necessary, we know how to protect our sovereignty. India has proved this time and again. Throughout our history, we have protected our national integrity and sovereignty and shall continue to do so in the future as well.”
He reiterated that India is a land of Buddha, Basavanna, Gandhi, and Ambedkar, and there is no room for terrorism and unrest.
Earlier, state opposition leader R Ashoka tagged the CM to an alleged Pakistani media house that carried chif minister Siddaramaiah’s remarks as part of a report on voices in India against war with Pakistan.
Calling him “Pakistan Ratna,” Ashoka went on to ridicule the CM, saying India’s neighbour would give him “Nishan-e-Pakistan,” its highest civilian award, for his “friendliness.”
