October 5, 2016
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi out to ensure no escalation in domestic political war of words today issued a note of caution to his cabinet colleagues and party leaders. During the morning cabinet meet PM asked the ministers not to speak out of turn and indulge in no chest beating.
October 5, 2016
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi out to ensure no escalation in domestic political war of words today issued a note of caution to his cabinet colleagues and party leaders. During the morning cabinet meet PM asked the ministers not to speak out of turn and indulge in no chest beating.
Last 48 hours saw the fragile political unity over India's surgical strike at terror launch pads across the log vanish. Delhi CM started it – asking the government to release evidence of the strike. Congress leaders like Digvijaya Singh quoted reports in Pakistani media and asked the government to neutralise the Pakistani propaganda. His junior from Mumbai Sanjay Nirupam called the strike "fake" forcing his party to distance itself.
With the chorus rising the PM had to step in to rein in his cabinet colleagues and party leaders. The PM told the ministers not to indulge in chest beating or open credit taking for the surgical strike. He indicated to ministers that from here on only those authorized by the government or the party chief will make statements in the media.
The BJP had refused to react to Arvind Kejriwal's challenge on Monday. On Tuesday, when more from the opposition rose against the strike, Ravishankar Prasad issued a strong statement but only after the party chief Amit Shah authorized him to.
Sources say the PM and BJP chief do not want an escalation in politics over the issue as the government has clear reports that Pakistan plans to push more terrorists to keep the pot simmering. The hint to the party thus is don't take credit for the strike as security scenario is still volatile.
The government has moved with a huge amount of caution on the surgical strikes. Instead of an announcement by the government, the DGMO was chosen.
The government also does not want a repeat of what happened after the Uri attack. BJP ministers and leaders had made strong statements adding to the pressure on the got to structure a stronger response to the terror attack.
Courtesy: NDTV
