The main architect of the 2016 surgical strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), former Northern Army commander Lt-Gen (retd) DS Hooda, will head a Congress task force on national security. Congress sources said party president Rahul Gandhi had met Hooda earlier and discussed the modalities of the panel to which Hooda agreed.
“The Congress president has set up a ‘task force on national security’ to prepare a vision paper for the country,” party said in a statement. Hooda will lead the panel and prepare the paper in consultation with a select group of experts.
Hooda’s appointment by the main Opposition party attains significance as the Congress has been accusing the Modi Government of politicising the surgical strikes. On September 29, 2016, the Army had carried out the strikes on seven terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) in retaliation to an attack on its base in Uri earlier that month.
As per the assignment by the grand old party, Hooda will manage a team of retired police and Army officers to prepare comprehensive report on the national security challenges. AICC sources said he is committed to complete his report on national security in next one month. The report to tackle major national security issues were assigned to Hooda 10 days ago, Congress sources said which is before the unfateful Pulwama attack last week.
Hailing the step, Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted, “Yet another positive and welcome step towards a strong nation and stronger national security by Congress president @RahulGandhi. The experience that Lt Gen (Retd) DS Hooda brings in, will benefit the nation in the long run.” In another tweet, she said, “The only thing they will find is Surgical Strike and How’s the josh?! :))”