Govt dubbing anyone asking question as anti-national: Cong

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Nov 08 2016 | 8:07 PM IST
Congress today hit back at the government for dubbing anyone asking questions as "anti- national" and accused the Modi dispensation of being the "real threat" to national security after it invited "our enemies" and ISI to Indian territory and country's defence establishments.
Congress also questioned the government's decision for putting on hold its order on NDTV India to be off-air for a day and said if it felt their decision stood ground it should face it boldly instead.
Accusing BJP of doing politics of hypocrisy, Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal said that it does not do such kind of politics and will continue to raise questions in public interest which the government will have to answer.
"Those who don't know how terrorists entered the nation and attacked us and killed our forces. They are the real security threat. Threat to national security is the terrorist entering our nation, not the person who is asking questions.
"Whoever criticises the government and asks questions is a threat to national security. Who is the real threat?
"Those who invite our enemies and ISI to our territory, to our own defence establishment they are real threat to national security," he said.
Sibal said those who oppose the government, sedition charges are slapped on them and whose who asked questions were dubbed as anti-nationals.
"We don't do hypocritical politics. They do it. When we were in government, we tried to answer every question directed at us," he said.
The Congress leader said while Prime Minister says there should be no politics on surgical strikes, he and Amit Shah only talks about that ahead of Uttar Pradesh elections.
He asked why did Modi allow ISI to enter Pathankot air base and who was held accountable for the Uri attacks where the country's brave soldiers died.
He asked where was the probe on Pathankot terror attack when the terrorists entered from across the border.
"Was there a probe? Who was responsible for this defence lapse?
"How did terrorists reach Gurdaspur? Was there a probe? Who was responsible? Wasn't the government responsible to find out?," he asked, saying Congress will continue to raise questions on such crucial issues.
Sibal said the government says there is a difference between the freedom of expression and national security and asked why did Modi ask questions when the Mumbai terror attacks happened.
"In 26/11 Modi ji reached Mumbai when the Taj was being attacked. Modiji gave a TV byte and criticised the Government," he said, asking whether this did not make him anti-national.
He asked, "should the people of this country not ask questions" and said a Union Minister has said that asking questions is contrary to our culture while another one dubs those asking as "anti nationals".
(REOPENS DEL 53)
Attacking those in power over alleged fake encounter in Madhya Pradesh, Sibal said there are two kinds of bans in India.
"One ban that can be put on hold. And another ban is that can't be put on hold," he said.
He said, "You have a fake encounter, where you silence a person. Then if you ask a question, you become anti-national" adding that a TV Channel has shown the conversations where authorities said that don't keep these people alive.
"This is a kind of censorship. You can censor a human being through a fake encounter. That is a permanent ban," he said.
The Congress leader said government has started saying that asking questions is not allowed.
"It appears that those who ask questions will become anti-national," he said.
"You can also censor a human being to a fake encounter. That is a permanent ban," he said, adding that this is why we can't ask any questions and they banned a channel.
*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: Nov 08 2016 | 8:07 PM IST

Next Story