Attack on air base: Cong terms it intelligence failure

Image
Press Trust of India Chandigarh
Last Updated : Jan 02 2016 | 7:07 PM IST
Punjab Congress Legislature Party leader Charanjit Singh Channi today blamed intelligence failure for terrorist attack on strategic airbase at Pathankot and accused Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal of not learning any lessons from Dinanagar attack in the same area six months ago.
He alleged that no serious notice was taken after a Superintendent of Police level officer was waylaid and his vehicle with blue beacon was snatchedby the terrorists in army fatigue.
Channi expressed surprise that Punjab Police failed to actby nabbing the terrorists after this serious incidents 24 hours before the attack and said it should also share the blame.
Lashing out at Sukhbir, who also holds the home department, for not learning any lessons from Dinanagar attack in Pathankot six months ago, he said, "at that time, it was Dinanagar police station that was attacked and this time, a strategic airbase had been targeted."
He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he used to boast of his 56-inch chest before Lok Sabha elections and blamed the UPA government for such attacks from across the border.
Pointing out that terrorists had struck within days after Modi's high level drama of making unscheduled stop at Lahore to wish his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday, he said that while Modi was sharing cake with Sharif, terroristswere planning to launch attack on India from that soil.
The CLP leader said this was equally a failure of the central intelligence agencies which had failed to notice movement of terrorists from across the border despite it being sealed.
He praised the bravery shown by the security forces and paid tributes to the two security personnel who sacrificed their lives while fighting to repel the attack.
He also questioned the NDA government now what was the strategy to stop such attacks.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jan 02 2016 | 7:07 PM IST

Next Story