The Congress on Wednesday came down heavily on Manohar Parrikar and said that Defence minister was blinded by “political vote garnering” and was “unabashedly lying and misleading people” by denying that any surgical strike was carried out during the UPA's tenure.
"Mr Parrikar, Indian Army deserves all credit but why mislead the people and undermine army's sacrifices by denying earlier surgical strikes?” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said while reacting to Defence Minister’s statement today where he credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and himself for the surgical strikes in the PoK last month.
“Manohar Parrikar today on two occasions has made remarks which we vehemently dismiss and strongly condemn. It does not behove a defence minister to insult the service, sacrifice and valor of the Indian Armed forces by shamelessly denying the earlier ‘surgical strikes’ by Indian Army to defend the nation,” Surjewala said.
He said that BJP President Amit Shah also lied to the nation and “disgracefully undermined the sacrifice of armed forces” when he claimed that the Army had crossed the LoC for the first time in 68 years under Modi government.
Earlier, in a series of tweets, the chief spokesperson of the Congress asked, "Operation Ginger in 2011 was a large-scale surgical strike. Why is Manohar Parrikar quiet on army's valour? Is (it) not blatant politicisation?" Randeep Surjewala asked.
He asked "if army deserves full credit (for the recent surgical strike), why are 'avengers of Uri' posters depicting Modiji as Lord Rama being plastered in poll-bound states?"
“Blinded by political vote garnering out of the blood and sacrifice of our soldiers, Manohar Parrikar is unabashedly lying and misleading the people of India.
“Defence Minister is free to give credit to anyone but should abstain from undermining the huge sacrifices made by our armed forces in last 68 years,” Surjewala said in response to Manohar Parrikar’s claim last week that the government under Modi had made the army realise its prowess and strength for the first time.
He said that Parrikar should immediately apologise for his statement insulting the armed forces by denying their supreme sacrifice during “multiple surgical strikes and in defending the nation.”
“Today his statement has insulted war veterans and ex-servicemen along with all those paramilitary ands police personnel. Does he mean that those who fought the great wars of 1947, 1962, 1965, 1971 and 199 had no courage and deserved no credit?” he asked.
“Those who participated in Operation Ginger in 2011 as also before and thereafter are valued members of our forces and some of them are still serving. Parrikar has dangerously attempted to belittle their contribution and is dividing the forces on political lines,” Surjewala said.
Parrikar earlier today rejected claims that surgical strikes were undertaken during the UPA regime and asserted that a "major" share of credit for the army action last month goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"I have been the Defence Minister for two years. From whatever I have known, there is no surgical strike from previous years. What they are quoting are actions taken by
border action teams. These are common actions across the globe and by the Indian army," he said.
Speaking at two different events in Mumbai, he said all the 127 crore people of India, including "doubting Thomases", and the army share and deserve credit for the operation as it was done by the armed forces and not by any political party.
At the same time, he said that "major share" of credit does go to PM Modi and the government for decision-making and planning.
