Hitting out at those ‘seeking proof’ of the surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday said further discussions on the operations will be an ‘insult’ to the ‘commendable’ task carried out by the Army.
“There is no need to respond to such irresponsible comments and demands. Fortunately, the Congress has also realised its mistake and distanced itself from the comments of its leaders... the AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) has also made it very clear,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi.
He said nobody has any doubt about the ‘credentials and commitment’ of the Indian Army which has done a ‘commendable’ job and further discussions on the operations will be an ‘insult’ to the force.
“I don't think any Indian citizen has got any doubt. Nobody is doubting the credentials and commitment of the Indian Army. It did a commendable job...It would be an insult to the Army if we further discuss,” he said.
Naidu said the Director General Military Operations himself had given the statement about the operations in full details and also shared the information at an all-party meeting.
He wondered if giving further details will be in the interest of the nation.
Observing that entire country is happy about the surgical strikes, he said the world has also acknowledged the step taken by India.
“Only Pakistan is saying something because they have to say something. They are not in a position to conduct funeral or last rites of their own citizens...This is their culture,” he said.
Earlier, addressing the event, the minister said India does not want war with anybody, but will give a befitting reply if continuously provoked.
"...We never want a war with anybody. If somebody continuously provokes us, we will give them a befitting reply like our jawans gave the reply recently," he said.
Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam had accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of indulging in politics over national interest and called the surgical strikes on terror camps as fake, the comments which were slammed by his own party.
Congress leader P Chidmabaram had also reportedly said it was up to the government to give proof of the surgical strikes in which seven terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir were destroyed by the Army.
Also, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Monday released a video message ‘saluting’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the surgical strikes across the LoC and urging him to ‘unmask’ Pakistan’s propaganda.
Defending Kejriwal, AAP leader Manish Sisodia on Wednesday alleged that the BJP and the media attributed words to the Delhi CM which he never uttered on the issue of the surgical strikes.
Referring to a video message of Kejriwal, Sisodia told reporters in Goa that the AAP convener never uttered the word saboot (proof), but was asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fight the propaganda unleashed by the international media with Pakistan questioning the authenticity of the operations.
"Those who have watched Arvind Kejriwal's video footage, they have appreciated him. They (who have seen the video) have said it is true that at the international level, the media is poking fun at the surgical strikes. There is a propaganda happening at the international level.
"So the way the Indian soldiers have bravely gone into the territory of Pakistan and eliminated terrorists, in similar fashion, the PM or the Indian government should fight back the propaganda," the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi said
"Where are words like 'video' or 'saboot' in the entire footage? They (media) are attributing these words on their own," he alleged.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said everyone should have faith in the government and allow the force to take its own call.
"Have faith in the government and leave it to the Army," he told reporters when asked about the demand for release of proof of the surgical strikes by the Army.
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IMAGE: Army soldiers patrol near the Line of Control in Pallanwal sector, about 75 kilometers from Jammu. Photograph: PTI Photo
