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As guns go silent, politicos engage in war of words
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of reversing foreign policy from “outcomes to optics”, Congress on Tuesday stepped up attack over government’s handling of ties with Pakistan in the wake of the Pathankot terror attack.
By
migrator
migrator
New Delhi
Dismissing PM’s Lahore visit on December 25 as a “dramatic gesture”, Congress spokesperson and Deputy Leader of Congress Parliamentary in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma said, “UPA government and its then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh preferred outcomes over optics. Now this has been reversed by optics coming first. Optics have taken place in Lahore”.
“The Prime Minister should now tell what are the outcomes. While we support dialogue, we want to make it clear that our security and integrity are non-negotiable,” Sharma said. “The comprehensive bilateral dialogue with Pakistan suspended after Mumbai terror strike could not be restored because India had laid some conditions. We wanted 26/11 conspirators to be charged and tried. We wanted speedy trial of the Mumbai terror accused. What assurances were received by PM Modi which prompted his visit to Lahore?” Sharma asked.
BJP: Cong gives boost to anti-nationals
BJP lashed out at Congress over its remarks saying its “shameful” statements will boost the morale of people with “anti-national mindset”. However, the ruling party parried queries on castigation from ally Shiv Sena. Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi alleged that Congress chose to question those who are fighting to eliminate terrorism and not the actions of terrorists.
“For the last few days Congress has been speaking in this voice. But it has crossed all limits today (Tuesday),” he said. On Congress’ demand that the government share the outcomes of its engagements with Pakistan, Naqvi retorted that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had made a statement in Parliament about this but Congress “was then busy disrupting it to protect the corruption of one family”, a dig at the Gandhi family.
Earlier on Tuesday, BJP’s ally Shiv Sena too took on the government on the issue, saying it had warned Modi not to trust Pakistan and that time has now come for him to focus on India rather than trying to unite the world.
Security Forces ERR, Costing The Nation Dear
- The terrorists are suspected to have infiltrated on December 30 and 31 through Beas river near Bamiyal village of Pathankot, bypassing thermal imaging cameras, hi-definition fitted drones used to guard the border.
- Police Superintendent Salwinder Singh's call to a colleague in the early hours of Friday morning (January 1), after his car was hijacked, didn’t alert the forces enough.
- The SUV has crossed the multiple police barricades before entering the air base, which highlights serious lapse at the security check posts.
- According to Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, the location of the attackers was pinpointed as Pathankot at least 12 hours after the seizure of the vehicle.
- The terrorists managed to enter the Pathankot base, before security arrangements were increased by midnight on Friday.
- Inadequate surveillance at the base, with a 24-km perimeter and a 10foot wall topped by barbed wire made it relatively easier for attackers to settle in the base before opening the fire.
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