Dhanbad: Amid the ongoing debate across the country against using of recent Indian Air Force’s strikes in Pakistan for political gains, leaders cutting across political parties in the coal belt are using Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s photograph for their election propaganda in social media. Moreover, business houses are promoting their trade with Abhinandan’s picutres in newspaper advertisements.BJP MP P N Singh, Nirsa MLA Arup Chatterjee, Congress leader Mayur Shekhar Jha and former MP Chandrashekhar Dubey have used the photograph of the national hero in their e-banners circulated on the social media.Speaking to TOI, BJP’s district media coordinator Milton Parthsarthi said there is nothing wrong in giving compliments to the national hero. He said, “Personalities like Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is a source of inspiration for the youth. I don’t know about others but as far as the BJP is concerned, we are not using the achievements of our military forces for political gains. These days, social media has become a platform where people present their feelings and if someone posts our heroes’ photographs, it is mere expression of his joy and pride.”However, district Congress president Brajendra Pratap Singh was against using such pictures for political purposes. He said, “Whether it is air strikes or surgical operations on terrorist camps in Pakistan, it is the achievement of the Indian defence forces and no political party should take political benefit out of it. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is our national hero and we all honour his valour. Instead of using his name and photographs, we should raise the real ground issues people are facing.”Nirsa legislator Arup Chatterjee of MCC said the e-banner displaying Abhinandan’s photo must be the work of some of his party workers. “I will look into the matter and immediately remove such contents on social media. But it is the BJP which is trying to cash in on the military action against Pakistan. They are putting the photo on their flags and banners in their election processions.”

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