'Had Posed Serious Questions To BJP, Not Armed Forces': Digvijaya Singh Tweets on 'No Surgical Strike' Remark

New Delhi: Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh, who has been slammed by his own party for questioning the authenticity of the surgical strikes conducted in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack on CRPF in 2019, has clarified that he has no doubts about the country’s armed forces and that he had only questioned the BJP-led NDA over the issue. The former Madhya Pradesh leader, while trying to do the damage control through a series of tweets, said that he held the armed forces in the highest esteem and his questions were pointed at the government and not the armed forces.

He said he was not questioning the armed forces but the Modi government as he as a responsible citizen has the right to know the facts. "I have held our armed forces in highest esteem. Two of my sisters were married to naval officers....There is no question of my asking questions to defence officials. My questions are to the Modi government," he said on Twitter.

 

I have held our Armed Forces in highest esteem. Two of my sisters were married to Naval Officers. I agree @PraveenDavar ji.
There is no question of my asking questions to the Defence Officials. My questions are to the Modi Govt.
1/n https://t.co/swN81NQuYl — digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) January 24, 2023

 

"Who is responsible for the unpardonable intelligence failure where our 40 CRPF personnel were martyred? From where the terrorist could source 300 kg of RDX? Why was the request by CRPF to airlift the CRPF personnel denied," he asked.

 

Question
1- Who is responsible for the unpardonable Intelligence Failure where our 40 CRPF Personnel were Martyred?
2- From where the Terrorist could source 300 kg of RDX?
3- Why was the request by CRPF to airlift the CRPF personnel denied?
2/n — digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) January 24, 2023

 

Addressing a public meeting during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, Singh had questioned the surgical strikes and accused the government of peddling lies. His remarks triggered a huge political controversy with the BJP targeting him, the Congress and Rahul Gandhi who is leading the foot march.

As the political controversy escalated, the Congress distanced itself from Singh's remarks and Gandhi rebuffed him calling his statement "ridiculous".

The armed forces are doing their job "exceptionally well" and do not need to give any proof, Rahul Gandhi told a press conference in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

In another tweet, Singh sought to damage control and posed some questions to the government. "Why was Devinder Singh DySP who hails from Pulwama after being captured by J&K police with terrorists let off? Pulwama is one of the most terrorist infested location, why was the area and vehicles not checked and sanitised," Singh asked.

 

4- Why was Devinder Singh DySP who hails from Pulwama after being captured by J&K Police with Terrorists let off?
5- Pulwama is one of the most Terrorist infested location, why was the area and vehicles not checked and sanitised?
3/n — digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) January 24, 2023

 

"These are my valid questions to the Modi government. Don't I as a responsible citizen have a right to know the facts? Who has been punished for this serious lapse? In any other country the Home Minister would have been made to resign," the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister also said.

 

These are my valid questions to the Modi Govt.
Don’t I as a responsible citizen have a Right to Know the facts?
Who has been punished for this serious lapse? In any other Country the Home Minister would have been made to resign.
4/n — digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) January 24, 2023

 

Congress leader and ex-serviceman Praveen Davar, however, sought to defend his party colleague saying, "Let us not misunderstand Digvijaya Singh. He has spoken against the Modi government and certainly not against the Army. Nobody holds monopoly over nationalism much less those who mix religion with politics. Let's not drag Army into politics please."

Singh had on Tuesday alleged that the government did not agree to the CRPF request of flying its personnel from Srinagar to Delhi and 40 soldiers sacrificed their lives in Pulwama in 2019 to a terror attack.

"They talk of surgical strikes. They claim to have killed so many people but no proof is given. They are ruling by peddling a bundle of lies," the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, who has often courted controversy with his comments, said.

Slamming Singh for his remarks, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "The DNA of Congress is Pakistan-parast (pro-Pakistan).... They are committing the sin of lowering the morale of the armed forces. This shows they are standing with Pakistan."