Congress should not speak in tune with Pak: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP) on Tuesday trained guns at Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam for dubbing the surgical strikes by the Indian Army as fake and said that the grand old party members should not speak the voice of Pakistan but stand united as one nation.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that such immature statements give Islamabad more ammunition to attack New Delhi.

"It is quite childish behaviour on part of Mr Sanjay Nirupam, who claims to be a tall leader of the Congress Party when he questions the credibility of the Indian Army by questioning the surgical strike which was conducted by the Indian Army on the launch pads of Pakistan," said Patra.

"This gives more ammunition to Pakistan to attack India. The Congress Party should not speak the voice of Pakistan, they should speak the voice and sentiments of India," he added.

Meanwhile, another BJP leader G.V.L Narsimha Rao echoing similar sentiments said it is strange that few opposition leaders want to believe the false agenda of Pakistan which has no credibility.

"At such time we should all stand untied like one nation. But few opposition leaders are wanting to stand by the false propaganda of the Pakistani leadership which has no credibility," said Rao.

Courting a massive controversy earlier in the day Nirupam called on the Centre to give proof of the surgical strike that took place in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) while asserting that India was by not doing so being insulted by Pakistan in the international arena.

"Every Indian wants #SurgicalStrikesAgainstPak but not a fake one to extract just political benefit by #BJP. Politics over national interest," he tweeted earlier.

Stating that the Congress supported every step by the Centre against Pakistan, Nirupam maintained that the BJP was using the achievements of the armed forces for political benefits.

"Surgical strikes used to happen before, but they were never publicised. Three surgical strikes happened during the UPA regime, the Congress never displayed a banner about it, but the BJP is putting up banners across the nation. I have even heard that Defence Minister is going to be felicitated in Goa," he said.

Emphasising that reports were emerging from the world questioning the authenticity of the surgical strike and that Pakistan was responsible for these developments, Nirupam called on the Centre to respond to the challenge by the hostile neighbour or the nation will face humiliation.

"I think all claims made by the government on surgical strikes are fake and will be fake until the Centre gives proof that such an operation existed. I am proud of the army and their power, but the Centre is trying to take political advantage and make political gains out of the sacrifice of our soldiers," he said.

When asked if he was questioning the Army's word on the covert operation as the DGMO had made a public announcement regarding the strike, the Congress leader mentioned that such strikes had happened before as well but the DGMO never made a statement on a large scale before.

"After the Uri attack, the Centre was under pressure as the entire nation wanted to see action. The world is raising questions now thanks to Pakistan and our government is so weak that it is not responding. Some sort of evidence needs to be provided by the Centre. We cannot bend to their (Pakistan's) propaganda when we have begun the mission to isolate them," Nirupam said.