2 years of surgical strikes: ‘Parakram Parv’ inaugurated

CONGRESS CRITICISED MODI AND THE BJP FOR ‘USING SOLDIERS AS A TOOL TO GARNER VOTES’ WHILE CELEBRATING THE ‘PARAKRAM PARV’

NEWDELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday attended an annual conference of top commanders from the Indian Army, Navy and the Air Force which deliberated extensively on the external security challenges facing the country, officials said.

The conference was also attended by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and top brass of the ministry. A range of issues, including the situation along the border with China as well as geopolitical power play in the critical sea lanes surrounding India, were discussed in the conference, officials familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.

The officials said the chiefs of the army, navy and the air force presented to the prime minister an account of India’s security preparedness. The conference also carried out a comprehensive review of the anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

The conference took place a day ahead of the second anniversary of the 2016 surgical strike.

Back in Delhi, defence minister visited the ‘Parakramparv’ exhibition at India Gate and interacted with those present to pay homage to the soldiers.

She said, “We are celebrating it because we want to tell the people of India the kind of sacrifice and valour which the Indian army shows.” She added the Indian armed forces that day proved to the world that there is a very clear way to show our strength.

Modi earlier inaugurated the “Parakram Parv” organised by the Konark Corps to commemorate the second anniversary of the surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

Thecongresscriticised Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for “using soldiers as a tool to garner votes” while celebrating “Parakram Parv” .

Party chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala accused the Bjp-led government of “compromising national security” and claimed that in 52 months of its rule in Jammu and Kashmir alone, 414 security personnel and 259 civilians had been killed in Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

He reiterated that the 2016 strikes were not the first time that India had carried out such attacks across the LOC. “We are proud that our forces have successfully conducted multiple surgical strikes over last two decades,” he said, and listed the past assaults, which include January 21, 2000 (Nadala Enclave) and September 18, 2003 (Baroh Sector)