PM asks ministers not to stoke war hysteria

According to sources, the PM told his ministerial colleagues that only authorised persons should speak on the 'surgical strikes' issue

Prime Minister Narendra Modi advised his ministers not to do any chest thumping or create hysteria over the success of last week's 'surgical strikes' by the Indian Army on terrorist launch pads on the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), government sources said.

In a related development, minister of state for home Hansraj Ahir said the army had shared video recordings of the strikes it carried out on the night of September 29-30. There have been demands from opposition party leaders in this regard. A Congress party leader, Sanjay Nirupam, had termed the army action "fake".

Congress spokesperson R P N Singh said on Wednesday the party favoured the government releasing the evidence on the strikes, subject to considerations of national security. Singh said this was important to call Pakistan's bluff. Islamabad has questioned India's claims on the strikes. Nirupam continued with his criticism, terming the surgical strikes the ruling party's "tamasha on national security".

According to sources, the PM told his ministerial colleagues at Wednesday's Cabinet meeting that only authorised persons should speak on the issue. Others, he said, should refrain from comments or statements. The PM also chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the second such after the 'surgical strike'.

At its meeting, the CCS was also told by National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval that the Pakistan Army was readying 100 terrorists to cross over into India. He informed the CCS that some dozen launch pads have been activated for the purpose.

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have also been advised to be taciturn in their comments on the issue and refrain from celebrating the event. A senior, who didn't want to be named, said it was difficult to do so, as not only the media but also party workers, supporters and people at large wished to hear their leaders talk about the army's response.

J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called on the PM on Wednesday to discuss the situation on the border. The meeting lasted nearly an hour.