Govt Must Hold Pak to Account: Politicos on Mutilation of Soldiers

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said that “the army will respond appropriately to the attack.” (Photo: PTI/Altered by The Quint)

The Pakistan Army’s mutilation of two Indian soldiers in a well-planned ambush earlier on Monday morning drew the flak of many political leaders across the country.

Reacting immediately to the attack, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley described the attack as ‘an act of barbarism’, further adding that the soldiers’ sacrifice will not go unacknowledged. He said that such acts were unheard of even during times of war, and that “the army will respond appropriately to the attack.”

Congress Criticises Ruling NDA Government For Attack

Expressing concern over the rise in terrorist incidents in the country post-September 2016 surgical strike, Congress' senior spokesperson Anand Sharma attacked the BJP-led NDA government over its Kashmir policy saying "it has been a disaster marked by political opportunism".

The situation is serious and we cannot overlook it and the prime minister should focus on governance and stop propaganda and claims.

Anand Sharma, Spokesperson, Congress

Further condemning the Pakistan Army’s attack, he said that Pakistan must stop terrorism and “realise that these actions are unacceptable in a civilised world.”

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also took to Twitter to condemn the attack, terming it a ‘barbaric and disgraceful act’.

Further, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also slammed the ruling government for the attack, blaming the Centre’s stand on Jammu and Kashmir.

Calling it a political issue, he further said that the matter will remain morose as long as a PDP-BJP coalition ruled the state.

J&K Deputy CM Nirmal Singh Says ‘Desparate’ Pak Will Have To Pay

Strongly condemning the mutilation of the two Indian Army soldiers, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said that 'desperate' Pakistan would get a befitting reply for its cowardly act.

This is a cowardly act by the Pakistan Army. They have to pay for this. It is the desperation of the militants... Though the world community has not declared Pakistan a terrorist state, but now it has been established that it is a terrorist state. Just to make everyone realise its presence Pakistan is using terrorism as instrument of diplomacy.

Nirmal Singh, Deputy Chief Minister, Jammu and Kashmir

Singh further said that the sacrifice of the soldiers would not go in vain.

Delhi CM Kejriwal Condemns Attack

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too reacted to the attack. He called for strong action against the perpetrators.

Baloch Leader Calls the Attack An “Inhuman Act”

Exiled Baloch leader Munir Mengal described the mutilation of the two Indian Army soldiers' bodies as an inhuman act by 'devilish' Pakistan Army.

I condemned the Pakistan Army’s inhuman mutilation of Indian soldiers’ bodies. On one side you have killed them and then you disgrace them. We Baloch people have seen and we understand this, how devilish the Pakistan government and the Pakistan army are.

Munir Mengal, Exiled Baloch Leader

Mengal further alleged that the Pakistan Army is doing the same things which the ISIS is doing and what the Taliban has done.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)