Congress reacts to terror attacks, questions PM's surprise Lahore visit

Party highlights sudden surge in terrorist activities in Punjab after a 20 years of peace

Condemning the terror attacks on the Air Force base in Pathankot, the Opposition Congress today questioned the efficacy of the Prime minister’s “surprise” Pakistan visit just a week back. Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s Political Secretary Ahmed Patel today said on Twitter, “We are with the Government in the fight against terrorism, we all must fight together” but added, “This happening after a week of PM meeting Nawaz Sharif raises serious questions.” The party highlighted the sudden surge in terrorist activities in Punjab after being peaceful for the last 20 years. The Congress stated it was in favour of engaging in talks with Pakistan but foreign policy has to be conducted through a well-formulated roadmap rather than abrupt and sudden departures.   

Responding to queries by reporters whether the PM's birthday gift to Nawaz Sharif on December 25 had been reciprocated by a terror attack on India in the New Year, Congress Communication chief Randeep Surjewala said that the PM’s surprise visit to Lahore had taken everyone including Home Minister Rajnath Singh by surprise but the PM had then maintained it was a “pathbreaking” initiative and a “new roadmap.” The Congress, he said, however has always been in favour of consistent, well deliberated foreign policy not abrupt surprises. He asked, “How can talks and terror attacks from Pakistan go hand in hand?”   

Surjewala reminded reporters, “It was Modi ji who used to say that no talks can be held when bullets and bombs are fired continuously. We want to remind PM Modi of all that he had said then of glowering at the Pakistanis before engaging in talks with them”. Surjewala, said that all that the Congress wants is that the PM take “firm action to protect the life of citizens of this country” and the armed forces are not sacrificed at the hands of Pakistani terror module.”

Underscoring the fact, as to how little things had changed despite the PM’s friendly overtures, “Two things are very clear. First despite PM visit to Pakistan, ISI continues to sustain and support terror activities against India. The current module appears to have come from Pakistan in the same fashion. Secondly the terror camps that are run by terrorists for carrying on anti- India activity in POK continues to be supported by Pakistani establishments.”

Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, speaking to reporters today, while condemning the attacks, said that only the Prime Minister can tell what assurances he got from Pakistan which convinced him to restore the dialogue process. Sharma said, “We (Congress) are of the view that we have to engage, there has to be a road map with coherence and clarity, there can’t be abrupt departures. PM Modi was unfair and harsh on criticizing Dr. Manmohan Singh.”   

Hauling up the Modi government on the issue of internal security Surjewala stated, "two terrorist attacks have now happened in last 5 months, 3 terrorist attacks have been made in J& K and Punjab in the last 5 months by terrorists who have come from Pakistan.” He advised that the BJP government should utilize the services of security experts and “if necessary leaders of the Congress Party” in engaging with Pakistan and putting an end to the terror activity from there.

Former Punjab Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Amarinder Singh stated that the  “peace process must not be allowed to be sabotaged” adding that "it is the responsibility of Pakistan government to identify such elements and deal with them with a firm hand".