‘Oppn, not Govt, politicized surgical strikes’
Voice of talks will be lost in gun
Decision on temple Ordinance after judicial process
‘Mahagathbandhan’ failed in J&K
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that it has been consistent policy of India, whether it is UPA or NDA Government at the Centre that the country was never opposed to talks with Pakistan and ready to discuss all issues but said the gun and cross-border terrorism continued. He charged the Opposition with trying to politicize the surgical strikes saying the Government and the Army did their job as both were deeply hurt by the Uri attack in which 19 soldiers were martyred, most of them burnt alive.
In an interview to a news agency telecast by various channels, Modi said Pakistan will not mend its ways with just one fight. “It will take more time to Pakistan to improve itself,” he added.
The Prime Minister touched host of issues including talks with Pakistan, cross-border terrorism, surgical strikes, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s offer for talks, defence purchases, Ram Janambhoomi etc.
“India had never been against talks with Pakistan. No Prime Minister or the Indian Government has opposed talks with Pakistan. It has been consistent policy of the Government, whether it was UPA or NDA. It was not the question of Manmohan Singh or Narendra Modi. Every Government supports talks and we are ready to discuss all issues,” Modi said.
However, at the same time, he asserted that voice of talks is lost in the gun. “The cross-border terrorism should end. We have isolated Pakistan at the international level”.
The Prime Minister virtually linked talks with Pakistan to an end to gun and cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, albeit without drawing a link between the two.
“Ek ladai se Pakistan sudhar jayega, yeh sochna bohot badi ghalti hogi. Pakistan ko sudharne mein abhi aur samay lagega,” Modi said.
“There was a war in 1965 (with Pakistan). There was another war in 1947. It will be wrong to presume that Pakistan will improve with just one war. It will be a long time before Pakistan improves itself,” he asserted.
The Prime Minister narrated in detail the events leading to September 29/30, 2016 surgical strikes against Pakistan and said it was the Opposition, which politicizes surgical strikes and not the Government.
“We were totally against politicization of surgical strikes and we haven’t done that. The Government didn’t issue even a single statement after the surgical strikes. It was the Army’s top brass, which briefed the media. . The Government informed Pakistan establishment and the Army briefed their Pakistani counterparts. It was the Opposition that raked up the issue, leading to politicization of surgical strikes,” Modi said.
Asserting that he was deeply upset by Uri attack, the Prime Minister said: “My soul was disturbed. I was feeling angry and very uncomfortable. I had also said this at a public rally in Chennai. I called top brass of the Army and they were angrier than me (over the Uri attack). They too wanted justice for the soldiers killed in Uri attack”.
The Government, he said, left it to the Army to decide appropriate response to the Uri attack.
“Specially trained Army personnel were picked up for the surgical strikes. A team was formed. Twice date of the strike was changed. There was high risk involved in carrying out the strikes but my risk was my soldiers and not the political repercussions. The team was speciallytrained and high-level of secrecy was maintained for the surgical strikes like what kind of hurdles will crop up. Thereafter, the entire plan was finalized,” the Prime Minister said, for the first time, giving a detailed account of the events and planning leading to surgical strikes against Pakistan.
However, Modi revealed, there was one clear direction to the Army soldiers that whether the operation was successful or not, they have to return to their territory before the onset of dawn.
“On the day of surgical strikes, no information poured in for two hours. I was disturbed. Why the information was not forthcoming? Then came the report that all teams (of the Army) were in safer zone. I told the Army authorities to keep me informing till each and every soldier was safe. Then last information came, after which we briefed the Cabinet Committee on Security and the Pakistan establishment followed by Army briefing to media,” the Prime Minister recalled.
Emphasizing that he was determined to see that none of the soldiers died in the operation, the Prime Minister revealed that he was keeping tab of the risky operation throughout the night and was getting live information.
“I knew it was a big risk. I never care about any political risk to me. The biggest consideration for me was the safety of our soldiers,” he said, adding he didn’t want any harm to come to the commandos who were “willing to sacrifice their lives on our word.”
The Prime Minister disclosed that the commandos for the operation were chosen carefully and then imparted special training. Whatever equipment was required, it was arranged for them, he said.
It may be mentioned here that four Pakistani fidayeens had attacked Uri Army camp on September 18, 2016 in which 19 Army soldiers were martyred, most of them burnt alive, triggering countrywide outrage against Pakistan and its sponsored militants. On September 29/30 night, the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan at four places from Jammu and Kashmir in which more than 50 Pakistani militants and troops were killed.
The Prime Minister said during the last three years, the Defence Ministry has given nod for 111 military projects worth over Rs 1.78 lakh crore for producing military hardware under the ‘Make in India’ in the defence sector.
Modi suggested any decision on an ordinance on Ram temple in Ayodhya can happen only after the completion of the judicial process but asserted that the Government was ready to make all efforts to fulfil its responsibility.
Modi’s comments came amidst heightened demands by Hindutava organisations, including the RSS, for an ordinance for an early construction of the temple.
“Let the judicial process take its own course. Don’t weigh it in political terms. Let the judicial process be over. After the judicial process is over, whatever be our responsibility as Government, we are ready to make all efforts,” the Prime Minister said.
Drawing a parallel with the triple talaq case, Modi said an ordinance came only after the Supreme Court order. He also accused the Congress of delaying the judicial process in the Ram temple case through its lawyers.
‘Mahagathbandhan’ failed in J&K
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that ‘Mahagathbandhan’ has failed in Jammu and Kashmir too.
During the interview, Modi referred to boycott of Panchayat and Municipal elections by the two mainstream political parties (PDP and NC) as ‘Mahagathbandhan’ against the elections.
However, he noted with satisfaction that there was 74 percent voting turnout in both the elections, which he described as failure of ‘Mahagathbandhan’.
He said the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ has failed in Telangana also.
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