Refusing Congress’s claim of conducting surgical strikes across LoC during the UPA government, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said that there was no such Army operation in his knowledge. “As I remember, there were no surgical strikes carried out by the Army in the past. Those action at the best is called as a covert operation where the action was taken first and the government was informed later.
We are not weak if we gave a hand for friendship
While saying at Forum for integrated National Security in Mumbai, Parrikar told September 29 strikes were as result of a government decision. He gave all the credit the Indian Army and the people of India. He further said “we don’t take credit for the strike. One should understand government takes the decision and that government should be cheered. 127 crores people of the country and the Indian armed forces deserve the credit for the surgical strikes.
He also said that the extending hand of the India for friendship was construed as weakness by Pakistan. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to patch up with Pakistan by extending a hand of friendship,but this was construed as weakness. We proved our adversaries that we are not weak by killing the terrorist in its land.
AFSPA followed governments’ instructions in Valley
On being asked about the alleged misuse of AFSPA in Valley, Parrikar said,” AFSPA has not been misused during our regime. In cases where there has been some error in judgments, inquiries are underway and action would be taken accordingly. We have given clear instructions to not to harm civilians but when somebody comes with a gun then don’t treat him as a common people.
On the intervening night of September 28 and 29, when the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes across the LoC to eliminate terrorist waiting at launchpads, ready to get into the country and carry out attacks. The announcement was made by DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh at a joint conference with the Ministry of External affairs on the following day.
