WATCH THIS: Call for unity and to back India's soldiers in unison, by Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has issued a fervent video appeal to the people of the Nation, sending across one clear message - right now is the time to eschew politics and come together as one to back the security forces.

Taking to Twitter, the Minister of State (I/C) Youth Affairs & Sports and MoS (I/C) Information & Broadcasting has issued the following message, standing against the backdrop of the National War Memorial that was inaugurated in New Delhi last week:

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Here's the text of what he says:

Friends, for all of us, for the Nation, now is a very significant time.

To combat terrorists and enemies of the Nation, our brave soldiers are ready to sacrifice everything.

To maintain the dignity of the Tricolour, whatever they need to do, they are ready for it.

Just think, those who are ready to give such a sacrifice, what must go through their hearts and minds when they see that even in such sensitive times, we're not able to come together and send a message of a united Nation to the enemy. 

The people of the country have picked a government and placed it in the hands of a person who does not compromise with national security, and doesn't let the country lower its head under any circumstance. 

This is the time that we should rise above politics and strengthen the hand of the Prime Minister. Let's send a message to the enemy that when the issue becomes the country itself, we speak as one and have one identity. 

This sensitive time isn't for doing politics. The government is ready with full strength to give the enemy a befitting reply. In such a time, let's not strengthen the enemy's hand by questioning its decisions. The country will not forget any such attempt. 

Let's come together and give the forces our backing. We should always keep in mind that we are here because the country is there.

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The appeal comes at a time when there has been shameful politics played over India striking against Pakistani terror, with Opposition parties questioning the Indian Air Force over the precision bombing of the Jaish-LeT-HM terror facility in Balakot despite the IAF, in its joint press briefing with the Indian Army and the Navy, stating that they hit the intended target and caused the intended damage,

The most recent such instance of politicisation comes from the Congress, with Digvijaya Singh saying the following:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also demanded proof:

"After the air strikes, we were told there were 300 deaths, 350 deaths. But I read reports in the New York Times and the Washington Post which said no human was killed. Another foreign media report said only one person was injured. We have the right to know, people of this country want to know how many were killed (at Balakot). Where the bomb were actually dropped? Was it dropped on the target?(sic)"

Following the strike, Union Minister Arun Jaitley had also called for the Opposition to not politicise, asking them to introspect after Pakistan used an Opposition joint statement to bolster its own case:

The Congress responded with a point-blank refusal, with Randeep Surjewala saying the following: