MENTION OF POK STRIKES? PM SAYS THIS DUSSEHRA IS SPECIAL

Mention of POK strikes? PM says this Dussehra is special

 

In the wake of the Army's surgical strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, PM Narendra Modi has described this year's Dussehra as “very special for the country“. The PM, who has so far avoided any direct reference to the strikes, added, “This Vijayadashami is very special for the country, many greetings to all citizens.“

The comment comes amid a raging political row over the strikes, which has seen Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi accusing Modi of exploiting the operation for political mileage, and BJP saying the opposition was belittling the military's valour and sacrifice.

Though Modi stuck to the advice he recently handed out to ministers and stopped short of tom-tomming the Army raids, he made the point that a nation could not be powerful without a capable military . The message, which came ahead of the fiery defeat of Ravana on Dussehra, could be read in the current political context.

Speaking at a function to commemorate Jan Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya, the PM quoted the latter to stress the importance of a competent military.

He also appeared to reiterate his previous comments that India did not have a histo ry of aggression and usually acted out of self-defence. “A nation ought to be powerful but a neighbour sho uld not feel fearful as that power is solely meant for its own safe ty,“ the PM said.

Modi's veiled in sistence on celebra ting the Army's suc cess is a strong indication that the political discourse around the surgical strikes is not over. The remarks about a powerful nation also come at a `Goldilocks moment' for BJP and reflect its growing confidence over a strengthening economy as growth looks up and a good monsoon dampens food inflation. BJP national president Amit Shah and RSS's secondin-command Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi spoke on the need for strengthening India's security, with Joshi saying India's pursuit for national security was inspired by the need to defend itself rather than defeat others.

Shah reiterated that the BJP government had made the country secure without diverting from the path of peace.“India should be safe and secure. Its borders are posing a challenge and everyone has seen that this issue can be resolved too,“ Shah said.

Modi's comments formed a small part of his speech but come ahead of his visit to Lucknow in poll-bound UP where he is to participate in a Ramlila event.

Opposition parties have been swift to claim that the visit has political overtones, saying the PM is keen to make a point through the Ramlila's “good wins over evil“ theme.

Party circles feel the Army's feat has strengthened BJP's `tough-on-national security' credentials and Modi's image as a strong leader.

(TOI)