Uri attack result of political leadership failure, says Congress

New Delhi: Dubbing the terror attack on an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir`s Uri town as the failure of the political leadership, the Congress on Monday said the Narendra Modi-led government`s Pakistan policy was "confused".

"Our soldiers were martyred because of political leadership failure. What is Modi sarkar`s (government`s) Pakistan policy? Why is India being repeatedly targeted," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala asked in a series of tweets.

"Decision to invite ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) to investigate Pathankot terror attack manifested two glaring flaws in Modi government`s Pakistan policy -- confused and confused," he said in another tweet.

"India`s borders and national security has been under siege for last two years. Defence Minister should be held accountable," Surjewala added.

The Congress leader`s remarks come in the wake of Sunday`s terror attack which was one of the biggest targeting the Indian Army in recent years that resulted in the death of 17 soldiers and caused substantial damage to military property just a few kilometres from the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

Taking a pot shot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Surjewala said: "In last two years, foreign policy vis-a-vis Pakistan has been used to promote Modi`s image as a `muscular` man. Uri attack explodes that myth."

He also took a jibe at Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, saying: "Parrikar is busy threatening fellow Indians like Aamir Khan to being a `Swayamsevak`. Then Uri attack happens. Warped priorities!"

The Congress leader also lambasted Modi for sidelining External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and said: "Sushmaji is conspicuous by her absence on foreign policy. Isn`t PM Modi singularly responsible for the complete disarray?"

He also said that "Modi government should ask International community to impose sanctions against Pakistan. Test for all Nation`s who oppose terror and stand with India".

Targeting Prime Minister, Surjewala said: "Modiji counsels UPA (United Progressive Alliance) to not write `love letters to Pakistan`. Post Udhampur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Pampore and Uri attacks, what is the Modi government doing?"

He also accused the Prime Minister of destroying the strategic and diplomatic advantage over Pakistan and said: "Modi government has destroyed the entire matrix of our strategic and diplomatic advantage over Pakistan in two years. Hope Uri attack is a final wake up call."

"Pakistan is a renegade pariah nation protecting global terror. How does PM Modi propose to `punish` and protect India`s interests," he wondered.

"Will PM Modi concede that Uri attack happened on account of a massive intelligence failure? Despite Poonch incident, why were we unprepared," he asked in another tweet.

"Will Modi government tell who leaked info of troop movement and change over? Why were jawans in tents and not in two empty buildings," he asked.

"Will PM Modi show the courage of conviction by acting against those responsible in his own command and control structure including his Defence Minister," he wondered.