Hours after the publication of an interview of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with a national daily on Thursday, 2 May, Congress, in a press conference, claimed that six surgical strikes were conducted under the UPA government, adding, that the party never politicised the army related matter.
Singh, in the interview had spoken about the politicisation of army operations such as the surgical strikes by the Bhartiya Janata Party-led NDA government.
Former minister and Congress leader, Rajeev Shukla said that between 2008 and 2014 six surgical strikes were conducted under Manmohan Singh government and two during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure, but no “fuss was created by both the leaders.”
“Since questions are being raised, therefore, we will just say it now. BJP has alleged that before the current government, no surgical strikes have happened. Under Manmohan Singh government, six surgical strikes happened but we never bragged about it.”Rajeev Shukla
Providing a sequence of the surgical strikes during UPA tenure, Shukla said that on 19 June 2008, a military operation was carried in the Bhattal Sector in Poonch, while another was carried on 1 September 2011 in Sharda Sector across the Neelam River Valley in Kel (Pakistan-administered Kashmir).
“In 2013, three more strikes were conducted and one in 2014,” he said.
Shukla further explained that it is not up to the government, but the army’s decision to reveal such information. He added, “normally” such information are not revealed due to security reasons.
“Conventions are to be followed, traditions are to be maintained. These things are never to be disclosed. You don’t ask political support on the surgical strikes, air strikes, army’s endeavor. Those are never made political issues.”Rajeev Shukla
Self-Promotion of PM’s Post Shows Lack of Gravitas: Manmohan Singh
Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for 'self-promoting' the PM's job, Singh in an interview to Hindustan Times, accused him of lowering the dignity of the office.
When asked if Modi has been able to pitch himself as someone who alone is strong enough to “protect India's borders”, Singh claimed that the UPA government too had conducted “multiple surgical strikes”, but did not use them to garner votes.
"In the past 70 years, a government in power never had to hide behind the valour of our armed forces," he said, adding that the government is politicising the forces to draw the attention away from its failures.
He also termed the government’s invitation to ISI to investigate Pathankot Air Base as the Modi government’s “biggest strategic blunder”.
During the interview, the former prime minister also said that the Modi’s brandishing of nuclear weapons by saying they are not kept for Diwali, shows his “political desperation in face of an imminent defeat”.
Congress’ Surgical Strikes Claim Fraudulent: BJP
Reacting to the Congress’ claim, the BJP said it was "fraudulent and farcical", alleging that India’s Grand Old Party was "guilty" of not allowing the punitive action against terrorists.
“It is a farcical and fraudulent claim. We have the greatest of respect for our armed forces. Our forces were capable of carrying out surgical strikes across the LoC, inside Pakistan, but they were not allowed to do so when the UPA was in power.”GVL Narasimha Rao, BJP national spokesperson
Addressing a press conference at the party office in Delhi, Rao alleged that the Congress was guilty of not allowing the armed forces to take action against terrorists.
Referring to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Rao said, "... the then Air Chief Marshal had asked then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to give permission for conducting an airstrike across the LoC or inside Pakistan and it was denied. The Congress is guilty of not allowing punitive attacks against terror."
(With inputs from PTI)
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