Guwahati: The political diatribe between Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao and his counterpart in Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma continued on Monday with the Assam chief minister showing "videographic evidence" of the surgical strike.
In fact the diatribe had started over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's old comments, demanding evidence of the surgical strike of the Indian army on Pakistan from the Centre.
It resurfaced and snowballed into a fresh political sparring after Telangana chief minister came out in support of Mr Gandhi.
Mr Sarma on Monday posted a video on twitter saying, “Dear KCR garu, here is the videographic evidence of the surgical strike by our brave army. In spite of this you question the valor of our Armed forces and insult them. Why are you so desperate to attack and malign our Army? New India will not tolerate insults against our Army."
It is significant that nMr Gandhi had been demanding that the Centre should present proof of India's surgical strike in Pakistan in 2016 and airstrike in 2019. “There is nothing wrong with Rahul Gandhi asking for proof of surgical strike. What was wrong?” Mr Rao told reporters at a press conference on Sunday.
He further added, “Even now I'm asking... Let the government of India show (proof). It is their responsibility. There are apprehensions among people... BJP makes false propaganda that's why people are asking for proof... and in a democracy... you are not a monarch, not a king.” Mr Rao also said that Mr Sarma should apologise for his remarks that appeared to question Mr Gandhi's parentage.
At a public rally in Uttarakhand, Mr Sarma while criticising the policy of Congress party also targeted Mr Gandhi for demanding proof of surgical strikes of the Indian army. He went on saying that Mr Gandhi had no right to demand proof from the army. “If army says that they have done the surgical strike, it was enough for we Indians to believe,” said Mr Sarma.
He also regretted, “He (Mr Gandhi) seeks proof from our Army of the surgical strike, did we ever ask you for proof of whether you are Rajiv Gandhi's son or not? What right do you have to demand proof from my Army?"
Mr Rao while criticising Assam chief minister for his remark questioning the parentage of Mr Gandhi had stated, "PM Modi ji, is this the 'sanskaar' (etiquettes) or our Hindu ritual to question an MP about the identity of his father.” Mr Rao had also added, “My head hangs in shame… This is not a good thing for the country.”
