Government action gets support from Left, Right and Centre

NEW DELHI: All political parties on Thursday firmly backed the Modi government on the “surgical strikes” across the line of control, India’s first military response to the Uri attack, and lauded the army for ensuring the country’s security.

A few hours after the army announced it had crossed the LoC and hit militants preparing to infiltrate from Pakistan occupied Kashmir, the government called an all-party meeting, chaired by home minister Rajnath Singh, to brief the leaders.

Ahead of the meeting, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj drove down to Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s 10, Janpath residence and briefed her on the lightning strikes.

“This is a strong message that conveys our country’s resolve to prevent further infiltration and attacks on our security forces and our people,” Gandhi said in a statement.

Her party supported the government in its actions to protect the country’s security and deal with the menace cross-border terror, she said.

The same sentiments were expressed in the meeting.

The home minister, defence minister Manohar Parrikar and director general of military operations Lt Gen Ranbir Singh updated the leaders but didn’t share the operation details.

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, a former defence minister, lauded the army for the “meticulous operation”. Sharad Yadav of the Janata Dal (United) praised the force’s “determination” and “will” in conducting raids past midnight in a difficult terrain to ensure India’s security.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad was of the opinion that Pakistan would not escalate the situation.

In a statement, the CPM Politburo expressed hope that “now incidents like at Pathankot and at Uri” wouldn’t be repeated. Party leader Sitaram Yechury attended the meeting.

BJP chief Amit Shah praised the army and also Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. “Today’s strikes signal the rise of a new India where the government doesn’t get cowed down by nefarious designs of terrorists,” he tweeted.

Delhi chief minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal saluted the army. “Bharat Mata Ki Jai. The entire country is with the Indian Army,” he tweeted.