Rajnath Singh briefs opposition leaders about surgical strikes
The Opposition parties have assured the government of taking a bipartisan stand on the issue.
New Delhi: In the wake of the Army’s surgical strikes along the LoC on late Wednesday night, the Central government on Thursday called an all-party meeting to brief leaders about the attacks and other related developments.
The meeting, which was chaired by Union home minister Rajnath Singh, was attended by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, defence minister Manohar Parrikar, NSA Ajit Doval, BJP national president Amit Shah along with senior leaders of all major political parties.
It was an attempt by the ruling party and its government at the Centre to win some favour with the Opposition after facing heavy criticism following the terrorist attack at an army base in Uri. The Opposition parties have assured the government of taking a bipartisan stand on the issue.
At the meeting, Mr Doval and Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh shared details of the surgical strikes carried out by the Army, and also briefed about the Army’s preparedness in case of any retaliation from across the border.
The government is also learnt to have shared the “reasons” behind its decision to attack the “terror launch pads in PoK” through which several attacks have been carried out in Indian soil in the past. Ms Swaraj told the all-party meeting about the steps India will be taking on the diplomatic front.
Extending support to the government, opposition leaders at the meeting clarified that there is “no difference of opinion at the political level”. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, information and broadcasting minister Venkaiah Naidu said, “all political parties unanimously supported the Army’s action, which was carried out at 5-6 important places across LoC along Kupwara and Poonch in J&K and some of these terror launch pads were destroyed.”
“Government and the Army had reports that the terrorists had plans to infiltrate again and create havoc in J&K and some other places,” he said. After the successful operation, the Army personnel had returned to their respective bases without suffering any casualty, he said.