New Delhi: Senior Congress chief Digvijaya Singh has but once more raised questions in regards to the authenticity of the 2016 surgical strike in the course of the Jammu leg of the celebration’s Bharat Jodo Yatra. His celebration, nevertheless, distanced itself from the assertion after the Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP) got here down closely on the Congress.
The federal government had stated on the time that these strikes had been carried out as a response to the Pulwama terror assaults. Pakistan had, nevertheless, denied it.
“They (central authorities) discuss surgical strikes and that they’ve killed so a lot of them however there isn’t a proof. They’re ruling by constructing an online of lies,” Singh stated on the rally.
After the speech, he posted a video on his Twitter account elaborating his considerations.
“From the place did the terrorist get 300 kg RDX in Pulwama incident? Devendra Singh DSP was caught with terrorists however then why was he launched? We additionally need to know in regards to the friendship between the Prime Minister of Pakistan and India,” he asked within the follow-up video.
The BJP got here down closely on the Congress after Singh’s assertion.
“Claims of uniting individuals, and spreading love and peace throughout Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra is an act for namesake, however the precise motive is of Breaking India. The statements by Digvijay Singh are an instance of the identical and the language utilized by Singh signifies it’s Bharat Todo Yatra,” the BJP stated in a press release.
BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya stated that Singh was “talking the language of Pakistan’s deep state”.
On a day, #IndiaHonoursParamVeers and Prime Minister Narendra Modi names 21 islands of Andaman and Nicobar after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, Congress and Digvijay Singh communicate the language of Pakistan’s deep state, query the valour and integrity of our Armed Forces. Disgrace… pic.twitter.com/kWHcJ3EbXk
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) January 23, 2023
Former Congress chief Jaiveer Shergill, who jumped ship to the BJP final yr, stated that “siding with the enemy” had grow to be a “trait” of the Congress.
Congress once more seeks proof of Surgical Strike
In relation to Pakistan:Congress needs proof!
In relation to China: Cong says Chinese language troopers beat up Indian troopers!
“Siding with the enemy” has grow to be Congress’s trait.
India’s political celebration or Pak/China’s advocate ?
— Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) January 23, 2023
Former DGP of Jammu and Kashmir, Shesh Paul Vaid, additionally slammed Digvijaya for his feedback.
Digvijay Singh questions surgical strikes. Statements made by imbecile congress leaders, calling Osama-bin-Laden, ‘Osama-ji’ has ruined the congress celebration. Boggles my thoughts, @RahulGandhi nonetheless needs to affiliate with such idiots. We want opposition with constructive criticism. pic.twitter.com/ICDomAmISG
— Shesh Paul Vaid (@spvaid) January 23, 2023
The Congress has distanced itself from Digvijaya’s feedback.
“The views expressed by senior chief Digvijaya Singh are his personal and don’t replicate the place of Congress. Surgical strikes had been carried out earlier than 2014 by the UPA authorities. Congress has supported and can proceed to assist all navy actions which can be within the nationwide curiosity,” Congress normal secretary in-charge for communications Jairam Ramesh stated.
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Previous backfires
This isn’t the Congress’s first bout with this line of questioning. The opposition’s bid to ask for ‘proof’ of the surgical strikes has backfired up to now as effectively.
In 2016, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Occasion (AAP) head Arvind Kejriwal had equally requested for “proof” of the strikes. Kejriwal finally needed to make clear that he’d requested for proof to counter Pakistan’s claims that such a strike didn’t happen.
The identical yr, Digvijaya and his Congress colleagues P. Chidambaram and Sanjay Nirupam additionally demanded proof of the surgical strikes. Nirupam even went on to name the strikes “faux”. The Congress, on the time, distanced itself from Nirupam’s feedback, however notably didn’t say something in regards to the different two leaders.
“These leaders who say that if Pakistan is demanding proof in regards to the surgical strikes they need to be given the proof, such individuals ought to take the citizenship of Pakistan,” then-union minister Uma Bharti had stated on the time.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)
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