JD (U) advises Parrikar to refrain from making uncalled statements

The Janata Dal (United) on Thursday advised Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who on Wednesday cast doubts on Congress' claims of conducting surgical strike under the UPA regime, to refrain himself from making such unnecessary and uncalled statements for national interest.

Recalling the Kargil War fought during former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure, JD(U) leader K.C. Tyagi told ANI, "We should remember that during Indira Gandhi's time, the geographical map got changed and should also keep in mind that during Atal Bihari ji's tenure, we went way ahead in Kargil. Parrikar is a defence minister, he should not get involved in these unnecessary arguments for national interest."

Urging the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress not to politicise surgical strikes across LoC, Tyagi said that it was not expected from such reputed political parties like them.

"I don't think it is right on both the sides to make statements about surgical strikes. We welcome the strikes that took place at present and it has made India proud," he told ANI.

Respond to the grand old party's demand of an apology from Parrikar for his assertion that the Congress' claims of carrying out surgical strikes were false, Tyagi said he agrees with former.

In a statement that may open a Pandora's box, Defence Minister Parrikar yesterday raised doubts on the Congress' claims of conducting surgical strikes across the LoC during UPA regime.

"From whatever I have learnt, there was no surgical strike anytime earlier," the Minister said, while speaking at an event hosted by the Forum For Integrated National Security.

Parrikar said such surgical strikes had never been carried out before. "What they are probably quoting is action taken by Border Action Teams. These are common practices in which local commanders take punitive action against opponents who have been troubling them to settle scores. But the government had never endorsed such action, and it was thus a covert operation carried out without anyone's knowledge. The report is issued subsequently," he added.

Parrikar, However, has also said that the credit for the recent successful surgical strikes in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir should go to all the 127 crore Indians, and not to any political party.