Nagrota: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, who had courted controversy by questioning the authenticity of the 2019 surgical strikes, has now softened his stand and said he has “deep respect for the country’s defense forces”. Seeking to put an end to the controversy, the veteran Congress leader said, “I have got the greatest respect for the defense forces” as his party leaders marched along with other marchers of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir.
Facing criticism from several quarters, the Congress also issued a statement, saying that “whatever needed to be said has already been done”, and that questions should now be directed towards the Prime Minister. Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said this while attacking the media on Tuesday – a day after Singh stirred a hornet’s nest by saying “there is no evidence of surgical strikes”.
Singh’s party has distanced itself from him as Congress’s communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh told the media while walking for the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir that all questions related to the surgical strike furore were answered by his party and the media Is. Your questions need to be targeted at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Ramesh also refrained from answering any questions and said that “we have answered all the questions.” Jairam Ramesh said, “We have answered all the questions. You go and ask the Prime Minister.” ” “The Congress party has said whatever it wanted. I tweeted about the same yesterday. I don’t want to say anything other than that,” she said.
On Twitter, Ramesh claimed that the UPA government had also carried out surgical strikes. “The views expressed by senior leader Digvijaya Singh are his own and do not reflect the position of the Congress. Surgical strikes were carried out by the UPA government before 2014. The Congress has supported and will continue to support all military actions in the national interest.” Will continue.” Ramesh tweeted.
The views expressed by senior leader Digvijay Singh today are his personal views and not those of the Congress party. Before 2014, the UPA government also did surgical strikes. The Congress has supported and will support all military actions in the national interest.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 23, 2023
His tweet and reactions came soon after Singh said there was no evidence of the 2019 surgical strikes against Pakistan, while the Center claimed to have carried out the attack. Digvijaya Singh in his address in Jammu on Monday said, “They (Centre) talk about surgical strikes and they have killed many of them, but there is no proof.”
On February 14, 2019, a CRPF convoy was attacked by terrorists in Pulwama, Kashmir, in which 44 Indian soldiers lost their lives. Retreating on February 26, 2019, Indian Air Force fighter jets targeted an advanced terror training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot, Pakistan.
The next day, Islamabad attempted to target Indian military installations, but was foiled by the Indian Air Force. The Bharatiya Janata Party has alleged that the opposition party has been “blinded” by its “hatred” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has “insulted” the armed forces, while making such statements at the behest of the Congress top leadership. went.
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said that making irresponsible remarks has become the ‘character’ of the Congress party. Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia listed Digvijaya Singh’s alleged controversies and said he has “added one more to his list of anti-national activities”.
Political analyst and Congress supporter Tehseen Poonawalla termed Digvijaya Singh’s remarks as a ‘self-goal’ for the party. He said that it is the same people who keep doing the same things who are ‘ruining’ the party. “The same people keep doing the same thing & scoring self goals. On one hand Hon’ble PM is naming 21 islands after #ParamVeerChakra awardees & on the other hand questioning surgical strike on #ParakramDiwas It’s the same people, every time, destroying the party!” he said in the tweet.