Surgical strike on Pakistan: Congress unites with BJP against Pakistan

The Congress party surprisingly expressed its full support to both the government as well as the Indian army for the surgical strike against terror launch pads in Pakistan.

Updated: September 29, 2016 6:10 PM IST

By Srividhya Iyer

Surgical strike on Pakistan: Congress unites with BJP against Pakistan
फाइल फोटो

New Delhi, September 29: The news of the surgical strike carried out by the Indian army that came early on Thursday morning has sent shock waves internationally. in a retaliatory measure to the dastardly Uri attack in Kashmir, the Indian Army, in the wee hours of the morning, crossed over to Pakistani-occupied Kashmir and neutralised seven different launch pads of terrorists operating from the region. The Pakistani government has received the news with a pinch of salt and has tried to downplay it as a cross-border firing by the Indian Army.

The surgical strike was, of course, something that the government had fore-warned of as a retaliatory measure to the Uri terror strike. The government has also been pushing several diplomatic levers and is actively trying to isolate Pakistan internationally. The SAARC summit that was to be held in Islamabad in November was also cancelled after India along with three other countries in the region expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to the less than conducive prevailing environment. The Indus Water Treaty and the Most Favoured Nation status accorded to Pakistan are also under review by the government. (ALSO READ: Surgical strike by India: Fresh encounter in Jammu & Kashmir, terrorists hiding in Mendhar sector)

Though the Congress had only expressed mild support for the diplomatic push by the government, the party surprisingly expressed its full support to both the government as well as the Indian army for the surgical strike against terror launch pads in Pakistan.before the all-party meeting convened by the government to discuss the latest developments, a meeting of senior Congress leaders with Sonia Gandhi was held in Delhi.

Soon after the meeting Congress President Sonia Gandhi said, “We stand with the Government in its actions to protect country’s security. The party hopes Pakistan will recognise that it bears a great responsibility in continuing cross-border terrorist attacks against India.Congress expects that Pakistan will take effective action to dismantle infra of terrorism that it has supported.”

However, the President of the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi was not the only one to stand with the government in this issue. Former Defence Minister and senior leader of the Congress party, AK Antony said, ” We support the Government and its endeavour to protect our national security. There is a strong message in this, we fully support the action by Indian Army. I salute bravery of Indian forces, this is a befitting reply to Pakistan. We support the Government.”  (ALSO READ: Surgical strike by India: Rajnath Singh speaks to 4 CMs, opposition political leaders on army strike)

Similarly, world renowned  diplomat and Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor tweeted out soon after the Army’s announcement saying,”Proud of our Armed Forces for their successful strike against terrorist launch pads. Now government must ensure the world understands and stands with us.” Former Union Minister MM Pallam Raju, also tweeted out a congratulatory message,”India has exercised restraint far too long which has been interpreted as weakness by Pakistan. Proud of our armed forces. Well done.” Meanwhile, “We congratulate the Indian army for undertaking surgical strikes on terror launch pads.We stand completely behind our Armed Forces,”was what  senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel tweeted out.

The only Congress leader who gave an extremely ambiguous and less than congratulatory message was  Digvijaya Singh. Speaking to the media Singh said,  “Let all the facts come” when asked about the surgical strikes by the Indian Army in Pakistan territory.

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