Surgical strike video released to divert attention: Congress
New Delhi, June 28: Describing Narendra Modi government as "coward and weak" in handling terrorism, the Congress on Thursday said the videos of surgical strike were released to divert attention from the falling value of rupee.
The party said Prime Minister Modi should apologise to the nation for "economic mismanagement" triggered by his decision to enforce demonetisation.
"Was this video released selectively just to divert attention from the value of rupee falling to Rs. 69 per dollar? He (Modi) should apologise to the country for this as it has happened due to economic mismanagement. Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad should also give him company," said Congress spokesperson Pramod Tiwari.
"Economy of the country has been destroyed," he added.
Tiwari said that surgical strike of September 28-29, 2016 was shamelessly politicised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in March 2017.
"Ravi Shankar Prasadji calls Hafiz Saeed, Hafizji, out of fear. He is so scared even during a press conference. They (BJP) released three terrorists in Kandahar -- Maulana Masood Azhar, Mushtaq Ahmed Jargar, Ahmed Sayeed Sheikh -- and took them in a chartered plane," said Tiwari.
"Congress government arrested them and they released these terrorists. Had they not released Masood Azhar, then peace would have continued in Jammu and Kashmir. There would not have been bloodshed in Kashmir."
The entire country was facing the consequences of the historic blunder they committed, he said and added: "the BJP government is the weakest and most coward when it comes to handling terrorism."
He said the Congress party lost former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi to terrorism.
"We have sacrificed lives, we have struggled. But they gave a safe passage to terrorists. BJP, whose hands are full of blood, now wants to teach a lesson to the Congress."
Tiwari said: "They spoke about Bofors, but they should not forget Rafale deal. They should not point fingers at Congress as they themselves were involved in the Kargil coffin scam."
He also said that a former Union Minister and a senior BJP leader Arun Shourie had termed the surgical strike a "farcical strike".
"Earlier, no Prime Minister had released a videos of surgical strikes, which were conducted at least nine times. For Modi, his party is bigger than the country.
"Without PMO and Defence Ministry's consent these videos would not have been released. It was done just to hide its own failures," he added.
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Surjewala slams Pratap Simha’s ‘vile’ remarks on CM Siddaramaiah, demands apology from BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over alleged disparaging remarks made by former Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during an assembly bypoll campaign in Bagalkote.
Simha made the remarks while campaigning for BJP candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath, triggering a political row ahead of the by-elections scheduled for April 9.
Congress has fielded Umesh Meti, son of former MLA late M Y Meti, whose death necessitated the bye-election.
"Pratap Simha's vile remarks about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot have exposed the BJP's despicable politics once again," Surjewala said in a social media post.
Alleging a larger political design, he added, "It is increasingly evident that Pratap Simha’s outburst is driven by desperation," and accused the BJP of using such remarks to target backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities.
The Rajya Sabha member further claimed that the incident reflects a pattern within the party. "This is not one man's madness—it is the BJP’s political culture," he said, adding that the remarks were aimed at "denigrating leaders from marginalised communities".
Referring to past incidents, Surjewala said, "CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have received death threats in the past, including one from BJP leaders who warned that their bodies would be stuffed into a refrigerator."
The Congress leader also criticised the BJP’s bypoll campaign strategy, alleging "internal contradictions".
He pointed to the party’s use of expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in campaigning despite earlier disciplinary action against him, accusing the BJP of resorting to "abuses and indignities" against opposition leaders.
Surjewala demanded immediate action from the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state president B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.
He said they must tender a public apology to Kannadigas, particularly to OBCs, SCs, and minorities, over the remarks, and urged the party to expel Simha if it does not repudiate his statements.
Surjewala also called for legal action, demanding that an FIR be registered against Simha and that strict measures be taken.
Warning of "political consequences", he said the electorate in the bypoll-bound constituencies would respond decisively if the BJP failed to apologise, asserting that voters would "teach the BJP a befitting lesson" in the elections.
There has been no immediate reaction from the saffron party yet.
