The Congress on Tuesday dissociated from its senior party colleague Sanjay Nirupam’s remarks demanding “some evidence” from the Centre on the surgical strikes. The party also took a serious note of the Mumbai Congress chief accusing the Centre of indulging in politics over the issue.
AICC chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said the party had taken a serious note of Nirupam’s remarks. However, he steered clear of questions whether show-cause notices would be issued to him and Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, who had also raised doubts over the strikes.
“Congress disagrees completely with the statement of Sanjay Nirupam. It has taken a serious note,” Surjewala said, insisting that the party had “full faith” in the bravehearts of Indian Armed Forces about conducting the surgical strikes.
He noted that party president Sonia Gandhi had unequivocally supported the Army and the Government on the issue of surgical strikes.
“Every Indian wants surgical strikes against Pakistan but not a fake one to extract just political benefit by BJP. Politics over national interest,” Nirupam tweeted, kicking up a row over the emotive issue. He later went on state it publicly too. Insisting that there never was a reason to raise a question or doubt the statements by the DGMO on surgical strikes, Surjewala, however, said Government needed to “call the Pakistani bluff and false propaganda” on the issue.
At the same time, Surjewala reminded Indian forces had taken such action on September 1, 2011, July 28, 2013 and January 14, 2014 “giving a befitting reply to the enemy” during the UPA tenure.
“In its maturity, wisdom, and in the interest of national security, Congress government avoided making loud claim for the effective response and action of Indian Army, which had the full support of political leadership,” he said against the backdrop of BJP projecting the military action as a reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘strong’ leadership.