Fix accountability for strategic failures, Congress tells Centre

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday criticised the central government over the second terrorist attack in a year on a military installation, saying that the "accountability needs to be fixed for recurring tactical and strategic failure".

"In quick succession, we have had two dastardly attacks on armed installations. This is an unfortunate novelty in war by terrorists," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters. "There has to be accountability for this repeated and recurring tactical and strategic failure. There can't be failure with no accountability," Singhvi demanded.

The Congress leader's remark came after 18 soldiers were martyred in Sunday's terror attack in an army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier on January 2 this year, terrorists attacked an air force base in Pathankot, in which seven soldiers were martyred. "In this year alone, we have lost more soldiers than we have in the past six years. This is unacceptable," Singhvi said, adding, "we cannot allow our brave soldiers to become fodder. There is complete operational, tactical, strategic and logistical failure."

"Unless we introspect and strengthen ourselves, we will not be able to meet this threat," the Congress leader said, reported IANS.

"This threat is real and potent, and in which we support the government in whatever steps it takes. These are yet to be shared with us," he added. The Congress leader also said that the government has failed on all parameters. "There has been a deterioration, be it in fatalities in terrorist violence, ceasefire violations, or explosion."

Slamming Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Singhvi said, "Defence Minister has made it clear that either he is the proxy Chief Minister of Goa or wants to be Chief Minister. In either event, the casualty can't be defence of India."