PANJIM: Stating that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi the Indian Army is prepared to face any situation, Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday announced that BJP will never politicise surgical strikes and try to gain mileage from them.
“We have witnessed severe criticism following the surgical strikes in PoK. We are being blamed for taking credit of surgical strikes and trying to attain political mileage from it. Let me make it clear, BJP does not want to take credit from the sacrifices of the Indian soldiers or their bravery,” Parrikar told a public meeting in Mapusa, his first visit to Goa after the strikes.
“State Assembly elections are due in five States. We don’t want to take credit of surgical operation ahead of the elections,” Parrikar said in the presence of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
The Union Defence Minister said that in the last 25 years, no government had the courage to take such a decision. “We would definitely like to inform the people of the country about this courageous decision,” he stated.
The Union Defence Minister, referring to statements from neighbouring countries said, without naming Pakistan, that the success of the surgical strike is reflected in the statements issued by our neighbours. “We don’t need a certificate from anyone for the success of the surgical operation, it is already certified by those against whom the surgical strike has taken place,” Parrikar said.
Parrikar said that under Modi’s leadership the Indian Army is ready to face any situation. “The political will, courage and execution power showed by the Modi-led government has not been seen in the past. In future, Indian Army will have such strength that no nation will dare to look at the country with an evil eye,” he said.
The Defence minister said India has become so powerful that the world is listening to its language of peace. “The country which is not powerful cannot speak of peace. Only powerful nations are heard when they talk of peace. Today the world is listening to us,” Parrikar said.
In an indirect reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s statement on ‘dalali’, Parrikar said that those involved in ‘dalali’ of various defence deals over the years, know what exactly they meant by ‘dalali’. “BJP does not know the meaning of dalali,” he added.
Earlier Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik said that Pakistan has been isolated by the world for its support to terrorism. “Pakistan is on the verge of being declared as the terrorist State,” he said.
