The Government came under severe attack in the lok Sabha over the killing of five Indian soldiers by Pakistan Army at the loC. The countrywide uproar over the brazen act also resonated in the House.
Despite some MPs, particularly from the Congress, creating a ruckus on statehood issues, the Opposition targeted the UPA for its weak response to the Pakistani attack.
After Question Hour was adjourned, Samajwadi Party chief Mulyam Singh Yadav raised the issue during Zero Hour and blasted the Government for its failure to avert the attack.
“Please tell us why you were not able to stop the attackIJ What have you done to strengthen the self-confidence of the people of the countryIJ Our forces are not weak. Why was there no input,” Yadav said.
The former Defence Minister also sought to know about the state of preparedness on the loC. “Please tell us if our boundaries are secured. China is preparing (for attack) and Pakistan nurses the grudge of creation of Bangladesh,” Yadav said. The SP leader also claimed Hafiz Saeed, the leader of terrorists, had surveyed that area a couple of days back.
Joining Yadav, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha focussed on Pakistan while targeting the Government over the “disturbing” incident on the loC. “The most tragic thing is that our armed forces seem to have been made helpless” in the face of “repeated aggression” by Pakistan, he said, amid cries of “shame, shame” by Opposition benches.
The former External Affairs Minister, speaking amid uproar created by Andhra MPs to protest creation of Telangana, provoked the Congress
by questioning whether it was not agitated enough on this killing of soldiers.
“Please tell us whether you are with Pakistan or with India,” Sinha asked members on the Treasury benches, as some of them were seen indicating anti-Telanagan MPs to troop into the well of the House.
Sinha recalled that Pakistani troops had carried out a similar attack on the loC in January also, killing two Indian soldiers and beheading one of them. “There was Mumbai attack. There was beheading of soldier... After that there have been regular incidents of Pakistani aggression,” he said, adding Pakistani troops were violating the ceasefire on the loC to aid infiltration by terrorists.
Targeting the Government over these developments, the BJP leader questioned why Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was absent in the House when such a crucial issue was being raised. He demanded that the Government should make a statement.
National Conference leader and former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said the country needs to unitedly respond to such attacks by Pakistan.