PM Should Counsel His Ministers: Congress Attacks Government on Myanmar Operation Comments

New Delhi: Opposition parties have criticised the Narendra Modi government over statements made by its ministers on the Indian Army's surgical strike on militant camps in Myanmar. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah of the National Conference said they were an "amazing self goal".

The Congress' Anand Sharma suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "restrain his ministers" and give them "mentoring and counselling," singling out Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for strong criticism.

"There should be sobriety and maturity. Jingoism and boastful claims are not going to help the operations of India's special forces," Mr Sharma, a former Union minister, said, accusing Mr Parrikar of a "foot-in-mouth" disease and the "habit" of making "irresponsible" statements.

Defence Minister Parrikar said at a seminar in New Delhi today, "If the thinking pattern changes, lot of things change. You have seen for the last 2-3 days. A simple action against insurgents has changed the mindset of the full security scenario in the country."

The minister also said, "Those who fear India's new posture have started reacting," in what is seen as a reference to a Pakistani minister warning on Wednesday that "Pakistan is not like Myanmar."

Pakistan's Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan's statement was in response to Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore's remarks in an interview that India's military action in Myanmar to hit back at militants who killed 18 soldiers in Manipur was a message to other countries.

Mr Sharma criticised Mr Rathore too for his comments on the Ops and for tweeting with the hashtag "#56inchrocks" in a reference to PM Modi and his government.  

Omar Abdullah said such comments were "counter-productive" and had led to Myanmar denying that the operation took place in its territory.

"What an amazing self goal!!! Next time you have a good covert Op, let the Op speak for itself and leave the chest thumping for the campaigns," Mr Abdullah tweeted.

The Myanmar government has made contradictory statements about the operation. A government official was quoted by the Wall Street Journal as confirming the Indian operation in his country. "He said that there was 'coordination and cooperation' between the Indian troops and Myanmar's armed forces based in the area of the raids, but added that no Myanmar soldiers were directly involved," Wall Street Journal reported.

In a Facebook post however, the official said, "According to the information sent by Tatmadaw (Myanmar army) battalions on the ground, we have learned that the military operation was performed on the Indian side at India-Myanmar border."