Manohar Parrikar appeared to give credit to "RSS teaching" for surgical strikes across LoC (File)
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday appeared to give credit to "RSS teaching" for the decision to conduct surgical strikes across the Line of Control to target terrorist launch pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
"I wonder, with the combination of a Prime Minister who comes from Mahatma Gandhi's home state, and I, Defence Minister, coming from Goa which never had any martial race, and surgical strikes. May be the RSS teaching was at the core, but this was quite a different kind of combination," Mr Parrikar said at a function, "Know your Army", organised in Ahmedabad.
Praising the Indian Army as the world's best, Mr Parrikar slammed opposition parties who have demanded evidence that the strikes were conducted. "When Indian Army says something we should believe it. It (Army) is world's best, professional, brave and having a very high integrity," he said, adding, "There are people who will never get convinced even if definite proof is given."
"Why is the Defence Minister of India always so over the top?" asked the Congress' Manish Tewari, adding, "Today he has credited the RSS for operations along LoC."
Opposition leaders like the Congress' Rahul Gandhi have alleged that PM Modi and his ministers are exaggerating the government's role in the military action and that when the Congress was in power, three similar cross-border strikes had been carried out, which were not publicised to prevent an escalation of tension with Pakistan and to allow the Army the secrecy and space it needs for highly-sensitive operations.
Mr Parrikar has earlier said that he hasn't in two years as defence minister learnt of any surgical strikes conducted by previous governments.
Pakistan has denied the cross-border raids, accusing India of misrepresenting cross-border firing as extra-ordinary action. Opposition leaders including from the Congress and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have asked the government to demolish Pakistan's claims by sharing evidence of the strikes. Top ministers say those calls for proof are tantamount to siding with Pakistan on a matter of crucial national security.
BJP president Amit Shah has said the surgical strikes will feature in the party's electoral campaign for Uttar Pradesh.