The political storm created aftermath of India’s reply to the Fidayeen attack on the Uri Army Base Camp has no substance if seen in the larger interest of the country. What is needed at this hour of crisis is all political parties should stand united behind the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and not opposing it because of the fear that one individual i.e. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to encash out of the situation. The reality is that BJP today is on the winning ground and any move to create imbalance will have its own pitfalls politically. Here, overnight winners like Aam Admi Party and other small outfits who are looking for an extra share of the political cake by raking such controversies are mistaken. India has every right to retaliate any aggression or attack the way it chooses to be and not on the basis of all and sundry. Even the Centre does not need to explain the modalities of such actions. Nowhere such a political stand has been seen where government is being asked to explain and produce proof for an army action against a neighbour who has been indulging in terror activities targeting army set up and civilian population. The surgical strike inside Myanmar was carried in June 2015 by a crack team of about 70 commandos of the Indian Army who finished the operation within 40 minutes, leaving 38 Naga insurgents dead and seven injured. The decision of “hot pursuit” was taken hours after the Naga militants killed 18 soldiers in an ambush in Chandel area of Manipur on 4th June and clearance was obtained from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the night of 7th June. There was no political hue and cry and neither there was such demand for proof as is being asked for PoK surgical strike now. Army at that time undertook such an operation as part of its new doctrine of ‘hot pursuit’ which it had used in PoK also to tell Pakistan any misadventure targeting its civilian population and military establishment would be paid back in the same measures and even in future if there is a need for more such operations these would be carried out. Will these political minnows like Arvind Kejriwal would be raising noise demanding proof at that time also? Government need not explain and give proof to anybody for any such operation carried out in the interest of the country.
