Cong accuses PM of playing politics on National security issues,lists terror attacks during his rule
New Delhi, Nov 26: The Congress on Monday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he criticised the party on issues of terrorism and Naxalism, alleging he was playing politics on matters of national security and had "compromised" the country's interests.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that lack of political action on the part of the BJP-led central government had led to disquiet at the border and an alarming security situation. He said that "16 major terror strikes" were held on security installations during the last 54 months.
The Congress' attack came after Modi said at a poll rally in Bhilwara, Rajasthan that the party, which was in power when 26/11 Mumbai attacks took place, had questioned the BJP government's surgical strikes in Pakistan.
Modi said when terrorists struck the country's financial capital 10 years ago, the country was governed by "madam" through remote control, an oblique reference to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Condemning Prime Minister Modi's remarks, the Congress spokesperson alleged that "one person who played despicable politics during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack was Shri Narendra Modi".
"Politicizing of national security and sacrifice of our jawans is intrinsic to BJP.
"The truth is - Modi Government has compromised our national security and in the last four and a half years. Lack of political action and policy has led to a disquiet border and an alarming internal security situation," Surjewala alleged in a statement.
"Even as our soldiers fought inside and the nation was united in battling its consequences, the then CM of Gujarat, was standing outside at one of the attack sites, addressing the media and blaming the then UPA Government for the attack," he alleged.
He said the BJP released "blood-stained ads in newspapers for Delhi elections, opportunistically politicizing the sacrifice of our soldiers".
"Today in a public rally in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, PM Modi turned history on its head and said that he never played politics on national security. We condemn and reject the utter falsehood...," he said.
The Congress leader alleged that the prime minister and the BJP have always used the "blood and sacrifice of our jawans as a vote garnering tool".
He alleged that BJP President Amit Shah dishonoured the valour of the armed forces on October 7, 2016 by "disregarding the supreme sacrifices made in the five wars and numerous surgical strikes".
Surjewala said the the BJP went to the extent of organizing events felicitating the PM in Agra and Lucknow and said, "It is intriguing and disappointing that Modi Government did not celebrate the first anniversary of surgical strike and started limited celebrations only in the second year".
Surjewala asked a set of 15 questions, including whether "it is true that in last 54 months of Modi Government, in Jammu and Kashmir alone, 426 jawans have been martyred and 278 civilians have lost their precious lives, in Pakistan sponsored terrorism".
"Is it not true that 16 major terror attacks have taken place on our security installations that include CRPF Camps, Army Camps, Air Force Station and Military Stations- Pampore, Uri, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amarnath Yatra attack, Sunjwan Army Camp, where scores of our precious lives have been lost.
"Is it not true our jawans like Shaheed Mandeep and Shaheed Narender Singh were beheaded and bodies mutilated by Pakistan, as Modi Government remained a mute spectator," he asked
Surjewala claimed that there is 500 per cent increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistan, since May 2014.
"Where is the '56-inch chest' missing as Pakistan commits more than 3,000 ceasefire violations at the LoC and International border.
"Why did PM Modi invite the rogue ISI to investigate the Pathankot terror attack on March 27, 2016," he asked.
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Two injuries, one DNF, a DQ as India end messy World Relays campaign
Gaborone (Botswana) (PTI): Amoj Jacob and Ragul Kumar got injured during the men's 4x400m and 4x100 races respectively as India ended their World Athletics Relays campaign in disappointment on the second day of competitions here on Sunday.
The Indian camp had high hopes of making the 2027 World Championships in the men's 4x400m relay but the team did not finish (DNF) the race as Jacob suffered cramps and pulled out of the race after taking the baton from the first leg runner Dharamveer Choudhary. Rajesh Ramesh and Vishal TK were to run in the third and fourth legs.
Those teams which could not qualify for the 2027 Beijing World Championships by reaching the final round of each of the six relay events on Saturday were given another chance in the second qualification round on Sunday.
The top two teams in each of the two heats (in all six relay events) booked the Beijing ticket on Sunday.
India will now have to try and qualify for the World Championships through the Top Lists of the World Athletics, which is a long and tedious process.
In the men's 4x100m race, third leg runner Ragul Kumar fell down the track after failing to hand over the baton inside the exchange zone to fourth leg runner Gurindervir Singh, which clearly showed the lack of coordination among the runners.
Harsh Santosh Raut and Animesh Kujur ran the first two legs.
The Indian quartet was disqualified and Kumar was seen being taken away from the Field of Play with the help of the volunteers.
It was a comedy of errors in the case of the women's 4x100m race, which saw the baton being dropped during an exchange between first leg runner Tamanna and second runner Nithya Gandhe, though the Indians finished the race in 53.09 seconds.
Gandhe started running quite a distance, but after realising that the baton was not in her hand, she turned and ran back to pick it up.
The only silver-lining for the Indian contingent was the national record time in the mixed 4x100m relay race, though the quartet of Ragul Kumar, Nithya Gandhe, Animesh Kujur and Sneha SS finished sixth in heat number two with a time of 41.35 seconds, bettering the previous national mark of 42.30 seconds set in March in Chandigarh.
The mixed 4x400m relay quartet of Theerthesh P Shetty, Kumari Saloni, Nihal William and Rashdeep Kaur ended at fifth in heat number one with a time of 3 minutes and 19.40 seconds.
On Saturday, all the five Indian relay teams had failed to make it to the respective final rounds and thus missed out on the 2027 World Championships berths.
