Punjab CM criticises Centre for 'politicising' surgical strikes

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh criticised the Centre today for allegedly politicising the "surgical strikes" across the LoC in September 2016, a day after TV channels aired a video purportedly of the Army action.

"I agree that one should not take advantage of something the Army has done. The Army does it all the time," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a programme organised to distribute cheques to the Jodhpur detainees, who were sent to Jodhpur prison following 'Operation Blue Star' in June 1984.

The ex-Army man, however, said he has not seen the video.

Echoing the Congress party-line, Singh said Army actions should not be used as fodder for political or electoral gains.

It was unfortunate that the surgical strikes were being "repeatedly politicised" by the central government, he added.

The surgical strikes against militant launchpads across the LoC were conducted by the Indian Army in response to an attack on their base in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18. Nineteen Indian soldiers died in the militant attack on the Uri base. It was one of the deadliest attacks on the security forces.

In response to another question, the Punjab chief minister slammed Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly and AAP MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira for what he said was his attempts to secure political and personal gains on the drugs issue.

Sigh said his government was working to eliminate the menace from Punjab. He said one of the kingpins of the trade is in a Hong Kong prison and efforts are on to extradite him.