The Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the CPI(M) on Wednesday slammed the Narendra Modi Government over regular ceasefire violations by Pakistan and termed the matter as a “big shame” with the BJP-led NDA Government yet to respond.
Criticising the NDA Government, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi rued that the Government’s response is “found wanting”. “Pakistan gives us a challenge on a regular basis, plays with our honour and damages our lives and properties and we are not being able to do anything. We only give statistics. The honourable Prime Minister, who talked with such vigour about nationalism does not come out with a single line statement on it. He did not tell the nation what concrete steps are taken to bring an end to it. This is a matter of big shame,” he said.
SP general secretary Naresh Agrawal also took a swipe at Modi and the BJP. “Those whom we considered strong turned out to be weak. Those whom we gave full power, failed to utilise it. We are not able to counter the manner in which a small country like Pakistan is threatening India and engaged in regular firing in our territory and now behaving like cowards. Nobody expected this from the Government,” Agarwal said.
Asserting that people in border belts were fed up with increasing ceasefire violations by Pakistan, CPI(M) MP and Politburo member Sitaram Yechury said urgent steps were needed to stop these incidents. “It is very unfortunate that these incidents are taking place increasingly now. People living there are fed up with the ceasefire volitions,” he told reporters in Jammu.
The reactions came on a day when two civilians were killed and several injured as Pakistani troops targeted 50 security outposts and three dozen hamlets with heavy mortar shelling and firing overnight along the International Border in Jammu & Kashmir.