Opposition goes on all-out attack, govt tries to defend its stance
NEW DELHI: The Opposition turned up the heat on the government on Sunday for the confusion and operational botch-ups at the Pathankot air base during the terror strike as the Congress attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his recent overtures to Pakistan.
Calling the security lapses as unfortunate, Congress leader Manish Tewari sought to know from PM Modi if he was trying to get Nobel peace prize at the cost of national security. “There may have been tactical errors but more important is where does the Pathankot attack leave the Pakistan-centric diplomacy of the Modi government? Is our PM trying to get a Nobel Peace prize with Nawaz Sharif at the cost of our national security? Nawaz has nothing to lose but Pakistan poses a grave danger to our national security,” he said.
Some leaders also took to Twitter to attack the government. “Honey, I Shrunk My Chest ! #56,” Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha tweeted. Sanjay Nirupam said, “He (Vajpayee) went Lahore by bus. We got Kargil. He (Modi) went Lahore to wish him on birthday. We got #Pathankot. Tale of 2 PM’S in India And one PM (Sharif) In Pak.”
Sitaram Yechury, CPI (M) general secretary, asked what was happening to the “56-inch” government. “Till today morning it was announced that all the terrorists were killed and our jawans have lost lives. We were told the attack was over and today we heard that the attack is still going on. What is this happening? Why are attacks taking place in the country?” he said.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law and businessman Robert Vadra, in an apparent jibe at the government, posted on Facebook: “Are we just going to make social trips and exchange Puggrees !! We need a change and creating a relationship should bring this change or all the kudos and media hype, is pointless.”
The government sought to silence the criticism. “The present regime is committed to national security and would befittingly respond in crisis. There is a clear message for all terrorists and their bosses that India is not at all tolerant towards terror. We do not compromise on issues which involves our national security” Union min NEW DELHI: Many of the questions raised over India’s response to the Pathankot terror strike are valid. Just how could extremists breach the high walls of the highly-protected base when concrete intelligence was available hours in advance is only one such question.
The first credible report came from within the security establishment; from the superintendent of police whose car was hijacked by the militants. He quickly informed the control room and his seniors that at least five terrorists were on the loose.
Close to the Pakistan border, Pathankot is an important area where many defence establishments are based. An entire army division is headquartered there, as is the IAF base that came