Retired Lieutenant General DS Hooda said on Saturday, 4 May, that cross-border operations had happened in the past too, but he disapproved of politicising the matter.
Responding to a question on the Congress party's claim that six surgical strikes had been carried out during its rule too, Hooda told reporters in Jaipur:
“Certainly cross-border operations have been carried out by the Indian Army in the past too. I am not aware of exact dates and areas.”Lt General DS Hooda, as quoted by PTI
The Congress on Thursday came out with a list of six anti-terror surgical strikes carried out during the UPA rule, asserting that it never tried to take political advantage from military operations as the BJP was doing.
The Congress released the list at a press conference after BJP leader Arun Jaitley took a jibe at the opposition party, saying its surgical strikes were “invisible and unknown”.
The former chief of the Indian Army’s Northern Command said it was not good to politicise the Army.
“It is not a good thing to bring the Army in poll campaign by political parties. The Election Commission too has said this. Ultimately, it’s the institution which suffers damage in long term.”Lt General DS Hooda on the sidelines of a function in Jaipur
Hooda was in Jaipur to attend a dialogue on India's national security.
"Protecting our people is one of the most important aspects in the national security strategy we prepare," he said in the function.
Hooda, who recently headed a Congress panel on national security and submitted a report, also said that the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir is an important challenge being faced today.
‘Ab Me Too’: PM Modi Slams Congress’ Surgical Strikes Claim
On Friday, PM Narendra Modi challenged the Congress’ claim that its government had conducted surgical strikes across the LoC, accusing the party of telling “lies”.
"Pehle upeksha, fir virodh, ab me too, me too (They initially rejected it, then opposed it and now are saying 'me too')," Modi had said at an election rally in Rajasthan’s Sikar.
Meanwhile, former Army chief and BJP leader General VK Singh said on Saturday that the Congress was lying about surgical strikes and demanded clarification on operations carried out during his tenure as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
General Singh had served as the Army chief from 2010 to 2012.
(With inputs from PTI and IANS.)
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