Mumbai Civil Society boycotts Sanjay Nirupam for his remark on army's surgical strike

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Oct. 5 (ANI): After facing the nation's ire Mumbai civil society also boycotted Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam today for demanding proof of the Indian Army's surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC). Members of civil society along with former Central Information Commissioner (CIC) Shailesh Gandhi declined to take part in an open discussion on Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Open Land Policy organised by Nirupam today. Gandhi confirmed to ANI that he is not taking part in this open house discussion as he was 'unhappy' about Nirupam remarks. Other civil society members who were supposed to be part of this discussion also backed out. The event was declared cancelled through a message released from Nirupam's office without assigning a reason. Courting controversy, Nirupam yesterday called on the Centre to give proof of the surgical strike that took place in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). An uproar broke out following his tweet which said, "Every Indian wants #SurgicalStrikesAgainstPak but not a fake one to extract just political benefit by #BJP. Politics over national interest". The Congress party immediately distanced itself from Nirupam's comments, asserting that the party has full trust in the abilities of the Indian armed forces. "Congress doesn't agree with the statements made by Sanjay Nirupam, we have taken a serious note of it. The Congress fully trusts the Indian Army," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said. (ANI)