The government on Wednesday said that it has received the video clips of India’s surgical operation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) from the Army, amid the growing “demands” that proof of the cross-LoC operation be made public.
Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir confirmed that the footage was handed over by the Army “as per the laid down procedure.”
Ahir said there is a process for putting such issues in perspective which was duly followed by the Army as well as the government.
“The laid down procedure has been followed. The DGMO briefed (about the surgical strikes). It was not the defence minister nor the prime minister and not the home minister. It was the DGMO who briefed (the media). That was the right thing to do and they (Army) did it.
“There was a time when written documents were submitted. Now the times have changed. Now clips are given and the clips have been given,” he told reporters in New Delhi.
The minister’s statement came amidst the growing chorus for showing proof of Army’s surgical strikes on terror launch pads in PoK.
All political parties seemed to unitedly supporting the army’s action against the terrorist camps in the PoK but have now “sought proof” to counter Pakistan’s propaganda which has sought to discredit India’s claims.
A political slugfest broke out with Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam calling it “fake”, provoking stinging criticism from BJP even as his own party said it “totally dissociates” from his remarks.
The Congress leader went on to demand “some evidence” to prove the surgical strikes did take place and accused the Centre’s ruling BJP of indulging in politics over the issue.
On Monday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal released a video message "saluting" Prime Minister over surgical strikes along the LoC and urging him to "unmask" Pakistan's propaganda by presenting evidence.
With patriotic sentiments running high amid soaring tensions with Pakistan, Union minister Uma Bharti said leaders who cast “doubt over the Army’s surgical strike should take Pakistani citizenship”.
"Those leaders who say that if Pakistan is demanding evidence about surgical strike, they should be given the evidence, such people should take the citizenship of Pakistan," Bharti told reporters in Pune.
Union minister Venkaiah Naidu yesterday alleged that "some politicians" are speaking the "language of Pakistan" on the surgical strikes and said it is "not fair" to ask jawans to "show proof" of their operations against terrorists.
Naidu's cabinet colleague Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his remarks "seeking proof" of the anti-terror surgical strike carried out in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
(With PTI inputs)
