'Bajrang Bali ki Jai': How PM Modi and co decided to avenge Pulwama and accomplished Balakot airstrike
'Phir itihaas banega', is all we can say, as we get ready for the broadcast of the historically exclusive interaction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Rajat Sharma, editor-in-chief and chairman, India TV.
In the interaction, PM Modi spoke about how India decided to avenge the Pulwama terror attack. He revealed it was by Lord Hanuman's grace and blessings.
"Unhonein barrier lagaaye, radar lagaaye. Hum Bajrang Bali ka naam lekar udd kar chaley gaye [They erected barriers, radar systems. We took Lord Hanuman's name and went flying.]" PM Modi told Rajat Sharma.
On February 14, a suicide bomber, Ahmed Adil Dar, rammed a bus into a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama and took the lives of as many as 40 jawans.
Later, the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) claimed responsibility for the attack. Jaish is said to be based in Pakistan.
Pakistan, however, continued to maintain it had no links with Jaish.
In retaliation, India carried out an airstrike in Pakistan's Balakot -- in the aftermath of which Islamabad downed New Delhi's MiG 21 Bison fighter jet and captured IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan later released Abhinandan as a peace gesture.
The Opposition, headed by the Congress party, however, questioned the timing of the events considering everything happened just weeks before the Lok Sabha polls.
Coming back to the historic interaction, Rajat Sharma also touched upon sensitive topics like West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's outlandish gifting idea (read: sweatmeat made of mud and mortar), his love-hate relationship with Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and the recently designated global terrorist -- Jaish chief Masood Azhar.
Watch the aitihaasik interaction only on India TV on May 4 at 8 pm.
