Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has raised doubts about the authenticity of the surgical strikes conducted after the 2019 Pulwama incident. Speaking on concerns regarding internal security, Reddy criticised the Modi government for what he perceives as a lack of transparency, stating that “no one really knows if the surgical strike happened or not.” Their scepticism has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accuses them of giving a “clean chit” to Pakistan and questioning the bravery of the Indian military.
Telangana CM’s Remarks Reignite Debate
The latest to join the chorus of doubters is Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. In his remarks, Reddy not only questioned the veracity of the surgical strikes but also criticised the Modi government’s handling of internal security and intelligence operations. “No one really knows if the surgical strike happened or not,” he stated, raising questions about the lack of transparency surrounding the operation.
Doubts over Intelligence Failures
Reddy’s remarks focused on the perceived intelligence failures that led to the Pulwama attack, in which over 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel lost their lives. “They have failed in the Pulwama incident. What did IB (Intelligence Bureau) do?” he questioned, accusing Prime Minister Modi of using the surgical strikes for political advantage following the tragedy.
BJP Accuses Congress of Siding with Pakistan
The BJP wasted no time in responding to Reddy’s accusations, with national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accusing the Congress party of “taking stands for Pakistan and terrorism and giving them the clean chit.” Poonawalla alleged that the Congress party, in its attempt to oppose Modi, is questioning the bravery of the military and giving Pakistan a way to protect itself from allegations of terrorism at international forums.
Previous Instances of Scepticism
Reddy is not the first Congress leader to express doubts about the surgical strikes. Previously, senior Congress leaders like Digvijay Singh, Punjab Congress chief Amardiner Singh Raja Warring, and Mahender Pratap Singh, the Congress candidate from Faridabad, have also shared their scepticism. Their remarks have drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, which has accused them of suggesting that the strikes were carried out by the Indian government and not Pakistan.
Pulwama Attack and Surgical Strikes
The controversy originates from the Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019, when a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of CRPF personnel, resulting in the deaths of 40 personnel.In retaliation, the Indian Air Force conducted airstrikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan’s Balakot region, an operation dubbed the “surgical strikes.”
Opposition Demands Proof
While the government has maintained that the surgical strikes were a successful operation, opposition leaders have demanded proof and transparency regarding the strikes. They have questioned the lack of information shared with Parliament and the public, fueling doubts about the operation’s authenticity.
The controversy surrounding the surgical strikes has reignited the debate over national security and the transparency of military operations. As the political rhetoric intensifies, it remains to be seen how the government and opposition parties will navigate this sensitive issue, which has implications for India’s relations with Pakistan and its stance on terrorism.