Both the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Narendra Modi government and Congress are having a war of words these days. On one side Congress is alleging that BJP is using video footages of September 2016 surgical strikes as a political vote garnering tool, while BJP is of the opinion that since they (Congress) do not have anything to show, so for them ‘grapes are sour’.
Expressing a staunch criticism against airing of video footage of September 2016 surgical strikes in media channel on Wednesday, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had attacked the Narendra Modi government for using armed forces for political and electoral gains. He said, “Let the ruling dispensation remember that the blood and sacrifice of our brave soldiers cannot become a political vote garnering tool for the Modi Government and the BJP.”
However, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy took a jibe at the leader’s comments that just because Congress do not have such videos, they are crying foul. He said, “Just because they (Congress) can’t produce such videos,because there’s none,we shouldn’t do it too? How’s this exploiting people’s sentiments in BJP’s favour? If you did it, why did you hide it? It’s just like the old saying ‘grapes are sour’.”
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Addressing the mediaperson, Surjewala also questioned the impact of post surgical strike in 2016, which did not stop the killing of at least 146 soldiers. He asked, “On one hand, Modi government and the BJP indulge in seeking credit for the sacrifice of our soldiers and surgical strike, yet the government has utterly failed to provide the direction, the vision and the policy for dealing with Pakistan and checkmating Pak-sponsored terrorism. No wonder apathy and incapacity of the Modi government has resulted in the sacrifice of 146 soldiers, more than 1600 ceasefire violations by Pakistan and 79 terrorist attacks post September 2016,” he said.
Showing his aggression on Modi, Surjewala even commented that every time the Modi government fails to fulfill promises, they take the sacrifice of our soldiers for their political gains. Also, stated that the Indian Army had conducted surgical strikes not only in 2016, but have many times in last two decades, especially after 2000, but not publicised. He said, “Post Surgical Strike of Sept 2016 against terrorists in Pakistan, then Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi and then Congress VP, Shri Rahul Gandhi had unequivocally supported the armed forces and the Government.”
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In the video being aired in the television channels, the clips shows terrorists being killed, bunkers destroyed, along with other military constructions across the Line of Control. The videos, accessed from official sources, were taken by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Thermal Imaging (TI) cameras, which the Army used to monitor the operation.