Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government informed Pakistan about the 2019 Balakot air strikes before announcing it to the rest of the world.
Addressing a poll rally in Bagalkot of Karnataka, the prime minister further claimed that he does not hide things nor attacks from hiding, but does things openly.
"I had asked the forces to call the media and inform them, but I said before that I will inform Pakistan through telephone about airstrikes at night and the destruction caused, but Pakistan people did not come on the phone. So I asked forces to wait, and after informing them, we later disclosed to the world about airstrikes that happened during the night," Modi said.
The Balakot air strikes launched against an alleged training camp of the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Balakot, Pakistan, was in response to an attack on the Indian Army in which 40 soldiers were killed in Pulwama of Jammu and Kashmir on February 14.
Modi claimed that when the news about the Balakot air strikes was announced, many people initially thought that the military operation was conducted in Bagalkot as the district's name sounds similar.
"We then held a press conference and disclosed information about it and the destruction caused to the enemies, after the strikes," he said.
Further, the PM issued a warning to those who try to harm the innocent people in the country, saying, "This is Naya Bharat (New India), ghar me ghuskar ke maarega (we eliminate the enemy in their territory)."
