<span style="color: #222222;">Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today hit out at Opposition parties, saying they made statements that hurt India's national interest after Indian Air Force's counter-terror operation in Balakot. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said the Opposition is entitled to oppose and ask questions, but restraint and statesmanship are also essential. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In a Facebook post, Mr Jaitley pointed out that when the entire nation was speaking in one voice and standing by the armed forces, Opposition parties were making statements which became an instrument in Pakistan's hands to discredit India's operation against terrorism.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Finance Minister said the most disappointing and objectionable statement was of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh who stated that he was disturbed with the "Mad rush of mutual self-destruction" by the two nations. Mr Jaitley said according to Dr Singh, perpetrators of terrorism and its victims are both at par.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He also termed as highly inappropriate the resolution passed by 21 Opposition parties accusing the Prime Minister of politicizing the Pulwama and Balakot incidents. He said the resolution gave a handle to the enemy and Pakistan's media used this statement as a trump card.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Jaitley also criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee for doubting the veracity of the Balakot strike and wanting to know the operational details. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said even Congress leaders raised similar questions doubting the credibility of both the government and the Air Force. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Finance Minister said there is enough evidence which points that the terror attack at Pulwama was planned and hatched across the border. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He emphasised that the pre-emptive attack by the Indian Air Force at Balakot across the border was intended to defend country's sovereignty and was a perfectly executed pinpointed operation. </span><br />'' <br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">He stressed that only terrorists were targeted in this operation. Mr Jaitley hoped that Opposition parties would revisit their position and not let the nation down. </span><br />