Congress distances itself from Sanjay Nirupam's 'fake surgical strike' remark

New Delhi, [India], Oct 4 (ANI): The Congress Party on Tuesday distanced itself from its party inmate Sanjay Nirupam's comment that 'Surgical Strikes' which took place on the terror launch pads of Pakistan across the Line of Control (LoC) was fake. Asserting that Congress have full trust on the Indian Army, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, while addressing a press conference, said the grand old party has taken cognizance of Nirupam's comment. "Congress doesn't agree with the statements made by Sanjay Nirupam, we have taken a serious note of it," said Surjewala. "The Congress fully trusts the Indian Army," he added. Surjewala further advised the Government of India to share the evidences it has in regard with the surgical strikes. "It is time that Government of India unmasks Pakistan's false propaganda by revealing and making public the evidences we have," he said. Courting a massive controversy earlier in the day, Nirupam called on the Centre to give proof of the surgical strike that took place in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), while asserting that India was by not doing so, being insulted by Pakistan in the international arena. "Every Indian wants #SurgicalStrikesAgainstPak but not a fake one to extract just political benefit by #BJP. Politics over national interest," he tweeted. Stating that the Congress supported every step by the Centre against Pakistan, Nirupam maintained that the BJP was using the achievements of the armed forces for political benefits. "Surgical strikes used to happen before, but they were never publicised. Three surgical strikes happened during the UPA regime, the Congress never displayed a banner about it, but the BJP is putting up banners across the nation. I have even heard that Defence Minister is going to be felicitated in Goa," he said. Emphasising that reports were emerging from the world questioning the authenticity of the surgical strike and that Pakistan was responsible for these developments, Nirupam called on the Centre to respond to the challenge by the hostile neighbour or the nation will face humiliation. "I think all claims made by the government on surgical strikes are fake and will be fake until the Centre gives proof that such an operation existed. I am proud of the army and their power, but the Centre is trying to take political advantage and make political gains out of the sacrifice of our soldiers," he said. When asked if he was questioning the Army's word on the covert operation as the DGMO had made a public announcement regarding the strike, the Congress leader mentioned that such strikes had happened before as well but the DGMO never made a statement on a large scale before. "After the Uri attack, the Centre was under pressure as the entire nation wanted to see action. The world is raising questions now thanks to Pakistan and our government is so weak that it is not responding. Some sort of evidence needs to be provided by the Centre. We cannot bend to their (Pakistan's) propaganda when we have begun the mission to isolate them," Nirupam said. (ANI)