Cong disowns Nirupam on border strikes

Hours after Mumbai unit chief Sanjay Nirupam embarrassed the Congress by terming as fake the recent strikes by Indian forces across the Jammu & Kashmir border, the party disowned the remarks.

"Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice-President Rahul Gandhi have unequivocally supported the armed forces and the government in surgical strikes against terrorists in Pakistan, as also in taking all steps for demolishing the terror infrastructure against India. We reaffirm the same," said the party's communications chief, Randeep Surjewala.

"Every Indian wants #SurgicalStrikesAgainstPak but not a fake one to extract just political benefit by #BJP. Politics over national interest," tweeted Nirupam. "The government has to provide some sort of evidence without compromising national security," he later said.

"There has never been a reason to raise a question or doubt on the statements by the DGMO (the army's operations head) on the surgical strike," said Surjewala.

However, the Congress, which had targeted defence minister Manohar Parrikar earlier for failure to secure the nation, took a dig at him for saying the "surgical strikes had left Pakistan in anaesthesia."

"We will like to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi if the immature and casual statements being made by the defence and other Union ministers have his sanction and support," said Surjewala.

Adding: "The government, however, needs to call the Pakistani bluff and false propaganda by using all information, evidence and instruments at the disposal of the Indian state."

"We also urge upon the government to stop politicising the sacrifices and bravery of Indian soldiers for myopic political gain. We are proud that even in the past, our forces have successfully conducted such surgical strikes on numerous occasions...the (then) Congress government avoided making loud claims for the effective response and action of the army, which had the full support of the political leadership," said Surjewala.