Some politicians speaking language of Pakistan about surgical strikes: Govt

New Delhi: Union minister Venkaiah Naidu alleged that “some politicians” are speaking the “language of Pakistan” on the surgical strikes carried out across the LoC last week and said it is “not fair” to ask jawans to “show proof” of their operations against terrorists.

“In a bizarre development, we have seen today some politicians are speaking the language of Pakistan on the surgical strikes carried out by our brave jawans on terrorist launch pads across the LoC,” he said at an event on Tuesday.

These people seem to have more faith in Pakistan’s misinformation campaign, the Information and Broadcasting Minister alleged.

Earlier in the day, Naidu’s cabinet colleague Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his remarks “seeking proof” of the anti-terror surgical strike carried out in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The “irresponsible talk” of those demanding proof only shows their “lack” of confidence in and respect for our jawans, as they are questioning assertions of the country’s army generals in public, he said.

These people have not realized the consequences of what they are saying and their statements amount to presenting India “in a poor light” in the eyes of the world, Naidu said and asked the armed forces not be affected as these comments are being made by “minor” political players.

“They are completely disconnected from the public mood and outrage over continued terror attacks against India, aided, abetted and funded from across the border,” he claimed.

Referring to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had hailed Indira Gandhi for defeating Pakistan in the 1971 war, Naidu said the nation needs to stand united when forces inimical to India and its progress are bent upon disrupting the socio-economic fabric of the nation. “Political considerations should be kept out of security operations,” he said.

Naidu also said details of the recent surgical operations were furnished to the people of the country not by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar but by those who are mandated with the task of ensuring safety, security and integrity of the nation.

“I am confident that those who are talking irresponsibly about army actions will realise their mistake and stop indulging in such anti-national utterances,” he added.

Naidu claimed that Pakistan is “silently mourning” and its situation is “like that of a thief” who has been bitten by a scorpion.

Rattled by the emergence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as one of the leading world leaders today, those inimical to the emergence of India as a global player, are doing everything to put hurdles in the path, Naidu claimed.

He also asked why was it that the United States had to come to Pakistan to find al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. India wants good relations with Pakistan. When Nawaz Sharif was to undergo an operation, the last call he made was to Modi, Naidu claimed.

However after that there was Pathankot, Uri attacks and there was outrage among the people of the nation, and Modi assured that this cannot be accepted. Pakistan has been aiding terrorists, Naidu alleged.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who was also present at the event, lauded Modi saying he has made a huge change to the way India is perceived abroad.

Modi has built bridges with many countries, and even foreign politicians want to be seen with him because of his popularity with the Indian diaspora, he claimed.

Modi is like a batsman, who came at a time when the team is struggling, but he took it to a score of above 500 runs, Prabhu said.

PTI