Surgical strikes: Modi govt will never let India bow its head in shame, says Rajnath Singh

Dismissing all speculations over whether India actually carried out surgical strikes against Pakistan or not, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that the Narendra Modi government would "never let India bow its head in shame". 

Addressing a press conference in Kargil, Rajnath Singh said that every Indian believes in Army’s capabilities and respects it.

"Every child in the nation believes in our Army. Whatever the Army has done until now has been well respected," Rajnath Singh said.

"Yakeen dilaana chahata hu ki desh ka mastak jhukne nahi denge, desh kay maan sammaan pe aanch nahi aane denge, (I want to assure you that we won't let India bow its head in shame, we will not let anything stain the nation's reputation.)" he added.

Rajnath Singh’s statement comes in wake of Pakistan denying India’s surgical strikes and Delhi Chief Minister asking PM Modi to expose Pakistan’s  attempts to spread "false propaganda" by telling an international delegation of journalists that no surgical strikes had taken place.

Earlier in the day, the BJP had asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal not to "belittle (the) great leadership, courage, and sacrifice of armed forces."

"I want to ask Arvind Kejriwal whether he believes in the extraordinary valour of our Army in conducting surgical strikes or not? If yes, then why are you (Arvind Kejriwal) getting influenced by the false propaganda of Pakistan? Why is he being swayed by alleged false propaganda and asking for proof to be given," Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

"Today you (Arvind Kejriwal) are the headline news in Pakistan media. Nothing sadder or more unfortunate," he added.

However, AAP spokesperson Ashutosh later clarified that the Delhi Chief Minister had never asked for proof on the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army on terror launch pads based out of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

"He has clearly said in his video that he supports Prime Minister Modi in this matter, even though the latter on countless occasions has tried to destabilise the Delhi Government. How can they (BJP) have more faith on the Pakistan media and not a patriot (Kejriwal) from their own country?" he said.