CPI demands strong action against Amit Shah's 'IAF as Modi's Air force' comment

New Delhi: The Communist Party of India on Thursday wrote a letter to the Election Commission (EC) demanding "strong and exemplary action" against BJP president Amit Shah for allegedly referring to the Indian Air Force (IAF) as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's air force.

CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy, in his letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, said that Shah violated the Model Code of Conduct at a rally in West Bengal by saying that Modi sent 'his Air Force' to eliminate terrorists in Pakistan's Balakot in February.

Addressing a rally at Krishna Nagar on Monday, Shah had said, "Forty-four of jawans were martyred in Pulwama terror attack. Earlier, nothing used to happen after such incidents. Narendra Modi ordered his Air Force on the 13th day (of the incident) and our aircraft blew the terrorists to pieces in Pakistan."

Reddy, in his letter, maintained that the armed forces belong to the country, not Modi.

"This is nothing but invoking armed forces in the poll for votes. There is no Modi Sena, no Modi Air Force but only Indian Army, which belongs to the nation. Somebody trying to own it is unpardonable and shameful," the letter read.

"We argue upon you to take strong action immediately on Shri Amit Shah. It should be exemplary action," he said in the letter.

Earlier, the Congress had also urged the poll watchdog to take action against Shah for the same comment.

Shah's remark came weeks after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the armed forces as “Modi ji Ki Sena.”

The EC had served him a notice and cautioned against making any such utterances in the future.