Stop crediting PM, don't require proof on surgical strikes: Congress

The Congress Party on Thursday accused the BJP-led NDA regime of politicising the surgical strikes and said that it does not require proof of the same as it firmly believes the Indian Army.

Congress spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit said that the BJP has tried to cash on brownie points by crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the surgical strikes.

"It is not about sharing the information, the army did it and the army has said it. The people, who are questioning it, are foolish. I am saying that the way the ruling party played politics over the entire matter and portrayed the whole episode in front of the world as if it was Narendra Modi, who conducted the surgical strikes," said Dikshit.

"I would like to say that Narendra Modi has nothing to do with the attack. In the past also, such strikes have been conducted by the Indian Army and the last strike was also the work of the armed forces," he added.

Another Congress leader P.L. Punia said that the army did a great job, adding it is incorrect to ask for proof of the surgical strikes.

"We also stand by the fact the army did a great job by carrying out surgical strikes. It was the DGMO, who made the information in this regard public. And is it correct to ask for proof from the people whom we have given the responsibility to protect the nation? No there is no need to seek proof from the army. They have done a wonderful job," said Punia.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir yesterday said the army has handed over video clips of the cross Line of Control (LoC) operation to the government as per the laid down procedure.

Ahir said there is a process for putting such issues in perspective which was duly followed by the army as well as the government.

"The laid down procedure has been followed. The DGMO briefed about the surgical strikes. It was not the Defence Minister nor the Prime Minister and not the Home Minister. It was the DGMO, who briefed the media," he said

"There was a time when written documents were submitted. Now, the times have changed. Now, the clips are given and the clips have been given," he told the media here.

The Minister of State for Home's statement came amidst the growing chorus for showing proof of the army's surgical strikes on terror launch pads in PoK.

A political slugfest over the surgical strikes broke out on Tuesday with Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam calling it "fake" and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asking the government to release the proof of the surgical strikes to counter the Pakistani propaganda against the operation.

The ruling BJP at the Centre, however, lashed out at the opposition for demeaning the morale of the armed forces by demanding proof of the predawn September 29 surgical strikes.