Senior Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam today apologised for questioning the veracity of “surgical strikes” carried out by Indian Army along Pakistani side of the Line of Control (LoC). However, Nirupam made it clear that his statement was not aimed against the Indian Army.
Speaking at VANDE MATARAM - India TV's mega conclave against terrorism, the Congress leader said that his statement was aimed against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP as they sought votes in the name of “surgical strikes”.
“I apologise for questioning veracity of ‘surgical strikes’, if my statement hurt anybody. However, I want to make it clear that my statement was against the politicisation of "surgical strikes”. Every Indian is proud of Indian Army’s valour,” Sanjay Nirupam said.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP politicised the issue by seeking votes in the name of ‘surgical strikes’,” he alleged.
However, Sanjay Nirupam said that he does not agree with the view-point that questions should not be raised over the Army.
“If an Army jawan raises questions about the system, like poor food quality, then his voice should also be heard,” Sanjay Nirupam said.
Interestingly, Sanjay Nirupam extended support to Major Gogoi who had tied an alleged stone-pelter to the Army jeep for using him as a “human shield” to save the lives of his troops as well as the Election Commission officials during Srinagar Lok Sabha by-polls on April 9 this year.
He also conceded that Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit was wrong in making insulting remarks against Army Chief Bipin Rawat.
Speaking on this occasion, Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari said that people have every right to question the government and the BJP leaders but he asserted that nobody should raise questions over Indian Army.
“Say whatever you want against the government but don’t raise questions over Indian Army,” Manoj Tiwari said.
Urging people to show respect to Indian Army, the actor-turned-politician said that Army should be tough with those who show the audacity to challenge them.
‘We believe that Army should break hands of those who dare to challenge them,” he added.
Tiwari blasted the opposition parties for indulging in politics over “surgical strikes”. He also underlined the need to launch attack on what he called “intellectual terrorism”.
“ It's important to attack intellectual terrorism as well,” Manoj Tiwari said.
Participating in the India TV conclave, former Army Chief General JJ Singh reminded the people of the country that Indian Army is an apolitical, secular and professional institution and urged political leaders not to say anything that could affect the morale of the soldiers.
“Indian Army is apolitical, secular and professional. You are living a happy life because Indian Army is doing its job at the borders,” General JJ Singh said.
Calling Indian Army the iron-fist of the country, Gen JJ Singh added that political leaders should desist from speaking against the armed forces.
“Indian Army is the iron-fist of the country and that's why we should not speak against them,” he said.
Disagreeing with the demand for disclosure of the details of “ surgical strikes”, Gen JJ Singh said that details of such operations are never shared with the public.
He went to the extent of saying that such operations are not even made public and the Army does not leave any evidence during such operations.
“However, we made it public this time to inform people of Pakistan who are kept in the dark by their rulers,” Gen JJ Singh added.
