Congress on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP overall have always used the 'blood and sacrifice' of our jawans as a tool to garner votes. The party also recalled how BJP president Amit Shah dishonoured the valour of Armed Forces on October 7, 2016 by disregarding the supreme sacrifices made in the five wars and numerous surgical strikes.
"The Truth is — Modi Government has compromised our National Security and betrayed our National Interests in the last four and a half years. Lack of political action and policy has led to a disquiet border and an alarming internal security situation," said AICC chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala recating to the Centre's celebrations of September 2016 Surgical strikes as Parakram Parv.
The party also posed 10 questions to the Prime Minister on issues like denial of ‘One Rank, One Pension', Government being remained a mute spectator and failure of Modi defend 'India's borders', the motive to invite Pakistan based ISI to investigate the Pathankot terror attack, the Government's move to slash India's Defence Budget and on issues related to Doklam and the current controversy on Rafale aircrafts.
The party said that conducting Strategic 'Surgical Strikes' with utmost precision and effective penetration at different times in last two decades has been characteristic of the grit and determination of Indian armed forces.
Congress said the nation has always celebrated the valour, fortitude and the spirit of sacrifice of Jawans related to wars of 1947, 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1999 which are testimony of the heroism of Indian Armed Forces.
"Serving 'Mother India' before 'Self' and keeping the Indian Tricolour always flying high even by making the supreme sacrifices, has been the guiding motto for members of our Armed and Paramilitary Forces. We are proud that our forces have successfully conducted multiple 'Surgical Strikes' over last two decades, particularly post the year 2000," Surjewala said joined by three retired Major Generals.
Congress shared past Surgical strikes like those of January 21, in the year 2000 (Nadala Enclave, across the Neelam River); September 2003 (Baroh Sector, Poonch); June, 2008 (Bhattal Sector, Poonch); August September 2011 (Sharda Sector, across Neelam River Valley in Kel); January, 2013 (Sawan Patra Checkpost); July, 2013 ( Nazapir Sector); August, 2013 (Neelam Valley); January, 2014, September, 2016.
"Post the surgical strikes of September 2016; Congress led by Sonia Gandhi and party chief Rahul Gandhi have always hailed the armed forces for demolishing the terror infrastructure," Surjewala said.