UPA Conducted 9 Surgical Strikes, But Never Politicized Them: Cong

Amid the controversy surrounding party MP Shashi Tharoor's comments hailing the Modi government's "surgical strike," the Congress on Monday said that the political leadership has always given the armed forces the freedom to neutralize terror camps or terrorists, adding that these powers should not be exploited for political gains.

- PREETHA NAIR @ New Delhi

Speaking to this paper, Congress MP Randeep Surjewala underscored that during Congress's tenure, at least nine such surgical strikes have been documented. However, Congress believes that it is sacrilegious to use armed forces as an instrument of political benefit to a ruling party or otherwise.

Tharoor stoked a row at a recent diaspora event in Panama. Hailing the 'Operation Sindoor', he said it marked a shift in India's military posture. "For the first time, India crossed the LoC to strike a terror base after the 2016 Uri attack. Even during the Kargil War, we did not cross the LoC," he said.