Sanjay Nirupam calls surgical strikes ‘fake’, Congress distances itself from his statements

Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam on Tuesday termed the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army across the LoC in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) as ‘fake’ and accused the BJP of making political capital out of it.

“Every Indian wants Surgical Strikes Against Pakistan but not a fake one to extract just political benefit by BJP. Politics over national interest,” Nirupam tweeted.

Later, while talking to reporters, said that the onus of proving whether the strikes took place falls on the government.

“The way BJP was indulging in politics, putting up banners and taking credit gives a view whether such strikes did happen. In Goa, the Defence Minister (Manohar Parrikar) is being publicly felicitated. Why were earlier surgical strikes not announced in a press conference? Why was a press conference done now (by DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh)? Was there any pressure from the government?” he asked.

Following Nirupam’s statement, the Congress party distanced itself from the Mumbai state-unit chief’s remarks on the surgical strikes.

Congress spokesperson R S Surjewala later told reporters that the party doesn’t agree with Nirupam and has taken a ‘serious note’ of his statements.

The party also asked the Modi government to put an end to the Pakistan’s propaganda and make public the necessary evidence about the strikes public.

“Congress ko humari sena pe poora bharosa hai. Ye na to pehla surgical strike tha, na ye aakhri surgical strike hoga. It’s time that Government of India unmasks Pakistan’s false propaganda by revealing the evidences we have,” Srujewala said.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also criticized Nirupam’s statement and said that such immature statements help Pakistan further their propaganda.

“It is quite childish behaviour on part of Mr Sanjay Nirupam, who claims to be a tall leader of the Congress Party when he questions the credibility of the Indian Army by questioning the surgical strike which was conducted by the Indian Army on the launch pads of Pakistan,” said Patra.

“This gives more ammunition to Pakistan to attack India. The Congress Party should not speak the voice of Pakistan, they should speak the voice and sentiments of India,” he added.

The Congress leader’s remarks came after Indian soldiers carried out surgical strikes across the Line of Control in PoK and destroyed seven terror launch pads on September 28 night.

The surgical strikes were carried out by Indian forces in the backdrop of the September 18 terror attack on an army camp in Uri town of Jammu and Kashmir in which 17 Indian soldiers were martyred. Two more soldiers died of injuries later.

Pakistan, however, has been dismissing the claim and saying that India is creating a media hype by branding a cross-border fire as surgical strikes.