KANPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the oppositionfore”demotivating the defence forces”, reports the Indian media.

Addressing a public rally in Kanpur, PM Modi said he is making this”serious charge” against some political opponents who, blinded by theirdislike for Modi, are harming the interests of the nation.

“For political mileage and benefits, some political parties are makingstatements questioning the air strikes and the bravery and valour of ourarmy personnel, deliberately,” he said.

As people cheered him, Modi said at a time when the country is “fighting adecisive battle against terrorism to uproot it forever”, there are some whoare making statements in a language that become a “weapon in Pakistan’sarmoury” to speak against India on the global stage.

Referring to the Pulwama attack, Modi asked the crowd to tell him whetherthey are satisfied with his reaction to the dastardly attack. When peopleresponded with a yes, he said: “While your chest is getting pumped up andfeeling proud of the air strikes, opposition parties are using the issue tosettle political scores with me. Will the country ever forgive them?”

Calling it a matter of disgrace, Modi went on to say that the “insiders inIndia” are doing things that are music to Pakistan’s ears. “They aredoubting the bravery of the armed forces, they are levelling dirtyallegations against the government … Who will it help at the end of theday?” he said, alleging that the “enemies of the nation are doing thisdeliberately”.

“Utterances, statements of our very own are giving ammunition to Pakistan,which has been caught red-handed in terrorism. Terrorists know it is endgame for them and hence they are rattled. The grenade attack on bus inJammu on Thursday was such an attempt,” he pointed out.