UPA government conducted nine surgical strikes but never politicised them: Congress
NEW DELHI: Amid the controversy surrounding party MP Shashi Tharoor's comments hailing the Modi government's 'surgical strike', the Congress on Monday said that the political leadership has always given the armed forces the freedom to neutralise terror camps or terrorists, adding that these powers should not be exploited for political gains.
Speaking to this paper, Congress MP Randeep Surjewala underscored that during Congress's tenure, at least nine such surgical strikes have been documented. However, Congress believes that it is sacrilegious to use armed forces as an instrument of political benefit to a ruling party or otherwise.
Tharoor stoked a row at a recent diaspora event in Panama. Hailing the 'Operation Sindoor', he said it marked a shift in India's military posture. 'For the first time, India crossed the LoC to strike a terror base after the 2016 Uri attack. Even during the Kargil War, we did not cross the LoC,' he said.
While Tharoor's comments invited sharp responses from his party colleagues, Surjewala said the party came out to set the record straight on multiple 'surgical strikes' over the last two decades.
'It's a matter of setting the record straight, without compromising in any manner, the operational freedom and across the border operations of our forces,' he said.
Listing the surgical strikes conducted by the Congress governments, Surjewala said conducting strategic 'surgical strikes' with precision and effective penetration at different times in the last two decades has been characteristic of the grit and determination of the armed forces.
'Surgical strikes and army operations beyond the LAC, mostly in Pakistan, but also across Bangladesh or China are a matter of operational efficacy to demolish terror infrastructure and eliminate threats to our country by our brave armed forces,' he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Monsoon session: Impeachment motion & Operation Sindoor set to dominate
(You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The monsoon session of Parliament will be held from July 21 to August 12, with the impeachment motion against justice Yashwant Varma and Operation Sindoor likely to dominate the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh, has recommended the dates, Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju told recommendation will be sent to the president for convening the session, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister announcement comes amid a demand from opposition leaders for a special session to discuss Operation Sindoor. "Every session is a special session for us," he said, emphasising that under the rules, "all important matters" can be discussed during the Monsoon session. He highlighted that the business advisory committee of both Houses will decide on the issues to be addressed.
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Opposition demands details of Supreme Court findings on Justice Varma
Some Opposition parties are urging the government to share with them the findings of the Supreme Court-appointed panel against high court judge Yashwant Varma in the "cash seizure" case as the ruling side is seeking multi-party support for its push for bringing an impeachment motion against the judge. The more damning the findings, the more inclined the Opposition would be to back the proposed impeachment move, said people familiar with the matter, even as leaders of Opposition parties including the Congress were still firming up their formal response. Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju informally reached out to at least two Congress MPs, and some regional parties, seeking support for the motion. "I can't say what is going on between the government and Opposition on the impeachment issue. But, according to the rules, the Members of Parliament, not the government, can move an impeachment motion against a judge with the required number of signatures for admission. So, for us MPs, to sign the proposed impeachment motion, we would require knowing what exactly the case for impeachment against justice Varma is," said Congress' Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha, a senior advocate. "So, we expect the government side to share with the Opposition the findings of the Supreme Court-appointed panel that looked into the complaints against justice Varma." Tankha had earlier written to the Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar, urging him to take steps to ensure MPs' get access to the panel's findings. Some sections in the Opposition nurse a grudge against the government earlier opposing and blocking the Opposition push for impeachment of the then CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Allahabad High Court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav. There is yet another section which views the case against justice Varma with a sense of suspicion and as part of a crafty manoeuvre. Yet, many in the Opposition feel that the prospect of the ruling side unveiling, formally or informally, critical findings of corruption by the Supreme Court-appointed panel against justice Varma, and the fact that the CJI had forwarded that findings to the government for considering action against the judge, would guide the Opposition's response. Live Events "Corruption in the judiciary is a matter of concern for all citizens and political parties. It cannot be tolerated, and strong measures must be taken to root it out. At the same time, the independence of the judiciary is crucial and the judiciary must remain free from political influence," said D Raja of the CPI, which has two MPs in both Houses. "As far as the impeachment motion is concerned, the government should consult with Opposition parties. It should not assume that it can proceed unilaterally on such important matters."
India.com
39 minutes ago
- India.com
India Eyes Deadliest Missile Yet: Meet R-37M That Can Obliterate Pakistan's AWACS, F-16s Before They Even Fire
New Delhi: In the escalating arms race post-Operation Sindoor, India may be acquiring a game-changing weapon that could rewrite South Asia's air warfare equation. It is Russian R-37M missile, a long-range air-to-air beast so fast and deadly that even the United States and China are known to shudder at its capabilities. Russia is said to have offered India to supply the R-37M and license its production on Indian soil. If the deal goes through, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will gain a powerful edge over adversaries such as China and Pakistan in high-stakes aerial confrontations. The R-37M is considered to be a nightmare for Pakistan's F-16s and AWACS. It is not only a missile but also a jet killer. Built to destroy enemy aircraft from beyond visual range (BVR), it can take down Pakistan's prized F-16s and AWACS surveillance aircraft before they even detect an Indian fighter jet. With speeds of up to Mach 6, six times the speed of sound, the R-37M can strike targets more than 300 kilometers away. Its mid-flight target switch capability and active radar guidance system make it almost impossible to dodge, even for highly maneuverable jets. 'It's not a missile but an airborne predator. It allows India to destroy enemy aircraft without ever entering their strike zone. That flips the entire doctrine of air combat,' said a senior defense analyst. At present, the IAF deploys R-77 missiles on its Su-30MKI jets. But the R-37M could replace the R-77 entirely, offering a dramatic leap in range, speed and precision. Designed originally to target U.S. AWACS and refueling aircraft, the R-37M's induction into India's arsenal would render Pakistan's air surveillance systems deeply vulnerable. Russia is reportedly willing to share production technology, allowing India to manufacture the missile domestically – a huge win for India's 'Make in India' defense ambitions. Built for the kill, let's know the R-37M by the numbers: speed – Up to Mach 6 (7,400 km/h); range – estimated 300-400 km; weight – 510 kg, length – over four metres; warhead – 60 kg high-explosive; designation – NATO calls it the AA-13 Axehead; and targets – fighter jets, AWACS, drones and tanker aircraft. Unlike older systems, the R-37M does not need visual confirmation. It can lock onto targets far outside the enemy's radar or weapon range, hitting them from the safety of stand-off distances. For Indian pilots, this means striking first from far and never being seen. R-37M Can Strike Across LoC The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is heavily reliant on U.S.-made F-16s, which are considered its crown jewel. But defense experts warn that with the R-37M in play, India could shoot them down from across the Line of Control (LoC) before they even know what hit them. 'The R-37M neutralises Pakistan's aerial advantage. If deployed, this missile makes any cross-border intrusion suicidal for enemy jets,' said a retired Air Marshal. As India's defense modernisation accelerates in the wake geopolitical tensions simmer, the R-37M could soon be a centerpiece of the country's air dominance strategy – one that might keep adversaries awake at night.
