As the ruling BJP geared up to to discuss the country’s internal security situation at its National Council meeting in Kozhikode, Congress demanded action against Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for the “security lapses” in Uri, where a terrorist attack on the Army claimed the life of 18 soldiers. The principal Opposition party urged Prime Minister Modi to replace the duo with “more competent people”.
Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan asked Modi to hold both Parrikar and Doval accountable for last week’s attack as they had both claimed after January’s Pathankot attacks that the terrorists who had breached the military base there would be the last to ever do so.
‘Chance to introspect’“We hope that the National Council meet will give the Narendra Modi government and the BJP an opportunity for introspection, self-examination an honest assessment of its failed policies and fix accountability of individuals in the government – all of which is responsible for a situation where our borders, Army establishments, security forces, civilians and everyday lives are under attack from India’s enemies,” Vadakkan told reporters here on Friday.
Vadakkan said that in the last 25 months, 156 Indian soldiers had attained martyrdom fighting terrorists and Pakistan.
“There have been over 945 ceasefire violations on LoC and counting. Who does the BJP think is responsible?” he asked.
He said the fact that curfew continues in the Kashmir valley for the 77th consecutive day was proof that the PDP-BJP government had failed to control the situation.
“[The] times demand a mature, firm and decisive policy on internal and external security beyond mere rhetoric and platitudes. Modi government must follow the path of a three-pronged strategy vis-à-vis Pakistan that would lead to its diplomatic isolation, imposition of economic sanctions that will break the chain of fuelling and funding the state-sponsored terrorism and a resolute strategic response,” Vadakkan added.