Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the opposition on the surgical strikes
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told members of parliament today that after the Indian army carried out surgical strikes against Pakistan in September, "I was astonished to see some of the statements made by some of you about surgical strikes in the first 24 hours. Put your hand on your heart and ask yourselves if that was right," the PM said in a strong rebuke.
On September 29, Indian soldiers crossed the Line of Control or defacto border in Kashmir and targeted staging areas used by terrorists in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Nearly 20 of those soldiers were honoured on Republic Day with gallantry awards.
The raids were conducted to eliminate terrorists who were planning to attack metros in India, the army said hours after the soldiers returned home safely. The military action was in retaliation for the deadly attack weeks earlier on an army camp in Uri in Kashmir, which left 19 military personnel dead.
Though opposition leaders initially said they backed PM Modi's decision for action against Pakistan, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi quickly demanded that the claims of raids be backed with evidence. They were attacked by the government for lending support to Pakistan's denial of the cross-border action. The army has stressed that the operation was top-secret; government leaders have said that though the strikes were filmed, it is up to the army to decide whether and when to release photographs and video.
"When you saw the mood of the nation, you had to change your stance," the PM said today. "You are troubled with the surgical strikes. You cannot bear good work done by others. It is unsettling for you to digest the facts. Deal with it."
On September 29, Indian soldiers crossed the Line of Control or defacto border in Kashmir and targeted staging areas used by terrorists in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Nearly 20 of those soldiers were honoured on Republic Day with gallantry awards.
The raids were conducted to eliminate terrorists who were planning to attack metros in India, the army said hours after the soldiers returned home safely. The military action was in retaliation for the deadly attack weeks earlier on an army camp in Uri in Kashmir, which left 19 military personnel dead.
Though opposition leaders initially said they backed PM Modi's decision for action against Pakistan, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi quickly demanded that the claims of raids be backed with evidence. They were attacked by the government for lending support to Pakistan's denial of the cross-border action. The army has stressed that the operation was top-secret; government leaders have said that though the strikes were filmed, it is up to the army to decide whether and when to release photographs and video.
"When you saw the mood of the nation, you had to change your stance," the PM said today. "You are troubled with the surgical strikes. You cannot bear good work done by others. It is unsettling for you to digest the facts. Deal with it."
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