Political battle erupts over evidence of surgical strikes

NEW DELHI: Pakistan is not the only one seeking proof of India's "surgical strikes" on terrorist camps across the Line of Control. A major political row broke out with BJP accusing AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and Congress of seconding Pakistan's propaganda by demanding proof of the attacks — a position that it said was tantamount to doubting the Indian Army. Congress's Sanjay Nirupam

fuelled the controversy when he suggested the raids into POK were "fake".

Nirupam's own party not only disassociated itself from his remarks but also mentioned three dates from its tenure in government when such action took place but was not announced.

Congress on Tuesday disowned remarks by Sanjay Nirupam that suggested that the Army's raids across the LoC were false claims. The Congress also mentioned three dates from its tenure in government when such action took place but was not announced.

BJP lashed out in patriotic anger with law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad accusing Kejriwal of delivering a publicity coup to Pakistan after the Delhi chief minister seemed to have stepped into the minefield with a statement whose congratulatory veneer need only be scratched to understand what he really seeks is proof that the commando action took place.

Both Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, though quick to say they were not questioning the fact that Army commandos had carried out the raids, did ask for proof so that the "world" would know Pakistan and India was lying.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, in remarks suggesting the BJP was using the strikes for political gain, mentioned three dates, all when the Congress was in government at the Centre, when Indian forces had acted similarly. "We are proud that even in the past our forces have successfully conducted such surgical strikes on numerous occasions," he said, adding that such action had been taken on September 1, 2011; July 28, 2013; and January 14, 2014.

Surjewala said that "in its maturity, wisdom, and in the interest of national security", the Congress government had "avoided making loud claims for the effective responses and actions of the Indian Army..." The Congress statement is seen by some as an attempt to counter the BJP's projection of Narendra Modi as a strong Prime Minister by linking his leadership to the cross-LoC raids.

On Tuesday morning, Nirupam had tweeted, "Every Indian wants surgical strikes against Pakistan but not a fake one to extract just political benefit by the BJP (sic). Politics over national interest." He demanded "some evidence" to prove the surgical strikes did take place and accused the BJP of using the issue to draw political mileage.

In Pune, Union minister Uma Bharti responded angrily, saying those leaders who doubted the Army "should take Pakistani citizenship". Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, meanwhile, said the party had taken "serious note" of Nirupam's remarks on Tuesday, that it "disassociates itself from it", and that it was "time for the government to expose Pakistan's malicious propaganda. The evidence should be made public".The politics over the issue has been unrelenting. Arvind Kejriwal had "saluted" PM Modi on Monday for the surgical strikes but simulataneously had sought proof that would squelch Pakistan's campaign in the international media. The BJP saw in this an attempt to question the Army's honour and dutifully attacked Kejriwal, with Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asking him not to allow himself to be influenced by Pakistani propaganda.

"It is not me who is giving political colour to the issue, but he (Ravi Shankar Prasad) has been doing so. Why is the BJP so bewildered by this statement of mine? Why is the BJP so terrified," Kejriwal asked reporters at Jodhpur airport on Tuesday. The Delhi CM's former mentor, Anna Hazare, also criticised Kejriwal, saying the Army's word must be trusted.

Congress leader P Chidambaram, meanwhile, told the TV channel CNN News18 earlier on Tuesday that "the people would demand" that video footage of the cross-LoC raids be made public, and that the government had deliberately taken "political ownership for a purely military action".