Fix accountability for strategic failures, Congress tells Centre

The Congress on Wednesday criticised the central government over the second terrorist attack in a year on an military installation, saying that the "accountability needs to be fixed for recurring tactical and strategic failure".

"In quick succession, we have had two dastardly attacks on armed installations. This is an unfortunate novelty in war by terrorists," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters.

"There has to be accountability for this repeated and recurring tactical and strategic failure. There can't be failure with no accountability," Singhvi demanded.

The Congress leader's remark came after 18 soldiers were martyred in Sunday's terror attack in an army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier on January 2 this year, terrorists attacked an air force base in Pathankot, in which seven soldiers were martyred.

"In this year alone, we have lost more soldiers than we have in the past six years. This is unacceptable," Singhvi said, adding, "we cannot allow our brave soldiers to become fodder. There is complete operational, tactical, strategic and logistical failure."

"Unless we introspect and strengthen ourselves, we will not be able to meet this threat," the Congress leader said.

"This threat is real and potent, and in which we support the government in whatever steps it takes. These are yet to be shared with us," he added.

The Congress leader also said that the government has failed on all parameters. "There has been a deterioration, be it in fatalities in terrorist violence, ceasefire violations, or explosion."

Slamming Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Singhvi said, "Defence Minister has made it clear that either he is the proxy Chief Minister of Goa or wants to be Chief Minister. In either event, the casualty can't be defence of India."

"India can't be left to fish in troubled waters. This too is a serious matter. We demand immediate remedial action and not jumlas (rhetoric)," he warned.

Criticising the government for attacking the opposition through media, Singhvi said, "Why is it that the government attacks the opposition through the media? As if speaking with constructive criticism is anti-nation act?"

The Congress leader also said that all points made by the party are for the benefit of the country. "We aren't playing politics."

Citing the example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's words, when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat, Singhvi said, "Modi believes in politicising everything and had said Pakistan ko uski bhasha mein jawab dena chaihiye. Usko love letter likhna band kar dena chahiye. (Pakistan should be paid in the same coin and India should stop making peace with it)."

"Pakistan ne 26/11 ko Mumbai mein humla kiya aur humare mantri America gaye. Arre bhai, padosi mar kar chale jaye, America kyun jaate ho? Pakistan jao na (During the 26/11 attack in Mumbai, the ministers went to the US. Why did they visit the US when India was attacked, couldn't they visit Pakistan instead.)," Singhvi cited Modi as having said then.

The Congress leader blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for politicising everything and said, "to politicise everything is the mindset of the BJP. Opportunistic and selective misuse of nationalism is the nature of BJP."

--IANS

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