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Parrikar credits RSS teachings for surgical strikes
AHMEDABAD: Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday credited “RSS teachings” for the decision to launch cross-LoC surgical strikes in retaliation to the Uri terror
AHMEDABAD: Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday credited “RSS teachings” for the decision to launch cross-LoC surgical strikes in retaliation to the Uri terror attack. At the same time, he also slammed those seeking proof of the Indian Army’s operation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Speaking at an event at Nirma University, the minister was quoted by agencies as saying, “Mahatma ke gaon se aane wale PM, Goa se defence min aur surgical strike, equation was different, maybe RSS teaching was basic core (Despite a PM coming from Mahatma’s land, and a defence minister from Goa with no history of a martial race we carried out surgical strikes. Maybe RSS teaching was basic core).”
Taking a dig at those seeking proof for surgical strike, Parrikar maintained the Indian Army was giving a befitting reply to ceasefire violations by Pakistan. “Violations are regularly taking place for the last five or six years, you can take out figures. But the only thing that has changed now is that we are giving effective reply,” he said.
Without naming any politician or party asking for proof of the cross-LoC strikes, Parrikar said, “When the Indian army says something we should believe.”
He said, “Two good things have happened after the surgical strikes. First thing is except some politicians, every Indian is rising in unison and standing behind our brave soldiers. And the second thing is we (Indians) have acquired sensitivity regarding national security in a very effective way.”
The opposition Congress hit back at the minister’s RSS reference, with a stinging counter. “Parrikar does not deserve to be the defence minister. He is a national embarrassment ,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said.
“We would like to ask the BJP and Parrikar – did PM Lal Bahadur Shastri go to an RSS shakha? Did defence minister Yashwant Rao Chavan go to a RSS shakha? Did prime minister Indira Gandhi, who created Bangladesh, go to a shakha? Did defence minister Jagjivan Ram go to a shakha? Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw or General JS Aurora - did they go to a shakha?”
