Parrikar insulted army, should apologise, says Congress

Parrikar should immediately apologise for his statement insulting our armed forces, said Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala

Hours after Manohar Parrikar said no surgical strikes had taken place under the previous United Progressive Alliance, the Congress demanded an apology from him and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop the defence minister from making such comments.

“Parrikar should immediately apologise for his statement insulting our armed forces, denying their supreme sacrifice during multiple surgical strikes and in defending the nation,” said Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.

The Congress, which has been saying that surgical strikes had taken place during its rule but it did not claim credit for the Army’s actions, asked the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to show maturity and gravitas in the matter. “We urge the ruling dispensation to show some maturity and gravitas in handling issues of national security and the sacrifice of our soldiers,” said Surjewala.

“The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and BJP President Amit Shah have publicly declared their intention to make political capital out of the surgical strikes,” he said.

Shah had said the Army, under the Modi government, crossed the Line of Control for the “first time in 68 years”.

Noting that the soldiers who participated in earlier surgical strikes were valued members of the armed forces, the Congress said Parrikar had attempted to ‘belittle’ their contribution and was dividing the forces on political lines.

The Congress asked PM Modi to intervene in the matter. “The onus lies at the door step of PM Modi to come forward, tame his belligerent defence minister and BJP president, apologise to the armed forces on their behalf, and publicly vow to never make political capital of army's sacrifice,” Surjewala added.

According to him, the BJP has “insulted” war veterans 1947, 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1999 by “politicising” the issue.