The Congress on Monday also hit out at the Government over its handling of the Pathankot terror attack with “conflicting” statements which showed “breakdown of institutional mechanism” as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “concentrated” all powers in his hands. The party also questioned the “silence” of the Government on Pakistan’s role in the attack.
For her part, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said that the internal security situation of the country is “serious” and hoped that Centre was taking all necessary steps to neutralise terror threats.
Sonia, who paid homage to martyrs of Pathankot terror attack, expressed her “deep concern” for the safety of families as also strategic assets of Air Force in view of the fact that counter terror operations are continuing for last 48 hours. “Sonia Gandhi saluted the valour of our security forces and paid homage to the seven martyrs, who made the supreme sacrifice while neutralising Pakistani terrorists in Pathankot,” said a party statement.
Senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad attacked the NDA Government over what he called “flip-flops” and “weak-kneed Pakistan policy” in the wake of Pathankot terror strike and suggested that the Centre should revisit its policy towards Islamabad.
“Though the time is not opportune to comment on the flip-flops and weak-kneed Pakistan policy of the NDA Government, as our security forces are battling the terrorist assault at Pathankot airbase launched by anti-India forces from across the border, there remains a dire need to revisit the ‘wishy washy’ and ‘consistently inconsistent’ Pakistan policy being pursued by the NDA Government,” Azad said in a Press statement.
Azad came down heavily on the neighbouring country and its “terror sponsoring” network. He said that such dastardly acts are not going to cow us down or shake “our resolve” as a nation to combat and counter the evil designs of terror spreading networks.
“It’s a cowardly act of enemies of peace and humanity which are aided and abetted from the soil of Pakistan, and our security forces are capable enough to respond adequately and appropriately,” said Azad, who is the leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha.
Offering deep condolences to the families of the slain soldiers, Azad said, “as the nation mourns the martyrdom of the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the sake of nation, I stand in solidarity with the bereaved families in their hour of grief”.
Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken alleged that institutional mechanism stands “demolished” and the Government is “in dark”. He rued that even after passage of 56 hours, it was not clear whether Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has met or not.
Maken reminded the Prime Minister that in the midst of 26/11 terror attack he had visited Mumbai when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat and even held a Press conference criticising the Congress Government.
“What is the reason that the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and the Home Minister are hesitant to name Pakistan even after ample evidence of Pakistan connection of terrorists. Terrorists called up Pakistan numbers from Pathankot. They had even booked the taxi in Pathankot from a Pakistan number. Why the Indian government is silent about PakistanIJ” he said.
“The institutional mechanism, which has to respond in such serious situations has been demolished as the Prime Minister has concentrated all powers in his hand. CCS is one of the examples to show the Prime Minister is trying to do everything from PMO and and even concerned ministers are not being kept in the loop,” Maken alleged. He also attacked External Affairs Ministers Sushma Swaraj for calling a meeting of ex-envoys.