NEW DELHI: Foreign Secretary S. Jaishanker and Director General Military Operations of the Indian Army on Tuesday walked the Parliament Panel on External Affairs through the surgical strikes conducted by Special Forces to neutralise terrorists across the Line of Control last month.
The Panel is headed by Dr. Shashi Tharoor and also comprises of Congress Vice-President and MP Rahul Gandhi. The members refused to comment on the contents of the briefing citing “confidentiality”.
The surgical strikes have hogged limelight since they were conducted on the intervening night of September 28-29 firstly because of the unprecedented it's public announcement by the Government and secondly due to the ensuing politics over it. The Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also kicked off a controversy when he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of indulging in “Khoon ki dalali” (exploitation of the Indian soldiers’ sacrifices). With elections scheduled in Uttar Pradesh political claims and counter claims on surgical strikes were flying high and the government decided to bring lawmakers up to speed on the issue.
The government had briefed the parliamentary panel on defence last week. The Indian Army Vice Chief had briefed the panel and the MPs were not allowed any questions on the operation, inviting criticism from the lawmakers. The dastardly attack on the Army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir and ensuing Government’s actions have been under heavy scrutiny both from the public and the opposition parties with calls being made for retribution against Pakistan.