A day after a television channel suggested that Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh backed Modi hardline policy, after an interview with him, the former army man on Saturday issued a clarification saying that he was against “terrorism and threats to India’s security, much like his Congress party’s stand.
He made it clear that he had not Rs backed (Prime Minister) Modi’s hardline’, but had always taken a hardline stand against terrorism and threats to India’s security, as propounded by every government at the Centre since 1947.
The Chief Minister asserted that there was no Rs Modi hardline’ stand to be emulated or backed, as sought to be projected by a TV channel, but Rs a national hardline’ stand that the Congress had always taken against Pakistan’s attempt to foment terror and unleash war on Indian soil.
Nowhere in his interview with the said channel had he said he was a supporter of Rs Modi’s hardline’ or ‘stands with NDA against terror, said Captain Amarinder in a statement, soon after the telecast of the TV interview, in which he had clearly and vehemently lambasted the prime minister and the BJP for trying to take credit for the victory of the defence forces in Balakot.
“Who says this has not been done before. It was done in 1947, 1965, 1971 and during the Kargil operations,” he had further stated, pointing out that the government of the day had taken the decision in the interest of the nation’s security. Just because Modi is in office, he can’t go around flexing his muscles for an action of the armed forces, said the Chief Minister.
In his interview, Captain Amarinder also demolished the theory that the Congress was favouring talks with Pakistan even though terrorism was still being unleashed from across the border. The Congress had spoken of talks only on the issue of military de-escalation post the Balakot operation, he said, completely delinking the matter from terrorism.
Responding candidly to some tough questions, the Chief Minister said withdrawal of AFSPA, as promised in the Congress manifesto, was linked with peace. On the dilution of the Sedition Law, he backed the Congress manifesto promise saying there was any number of laws already available in the country to deal with such situations. “We have to de-escalate somewhere,” as he put it.
On the so-called denial of ticket for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to fight against
Modi from Varanasi, the Chief Minister said she already had a load of responsibilities, which she could not do justice to if she chose to enter the electoral fray.
There was plenty of time still for Priyanka, who had just entered active politics, he said, describing her an intelligence and perceptive lady.
Captain Amarinder trashed the dynastic politics charges against the Gandhi family, saying the people of India were free to vote for whom they liked.
Rahul’s performance had been improving by the day and the Congress was clearly well positioned to win the election, he asserted.