Directionless policy of Modi government has led to disquiet at border: Congress
New Delhi, Jan 19 : The Congress on Friday raised concerns over the “directionless policy” on national security of the Narendra Modi government which it said has led to a “disquiet border” on the eastern and western frontiers.
“National Security is being endangered by the political actions of the Narendra Modi government. National security strategy cannot be centred on the Prime Minister’s personal propaganda machinery,” Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a statement.
“Instead it should be centred around our Armed forces and national sciences,” he said.
He said that our brave and valiant Armed forces should be applauded and we are extremely proud of their valour.
Attacking Prime Minister Modi, Surjewala said, “Lack of political direction, strategy and policy on part of the Modi government is harming India’s interests.
“The disquiet at both ends of our borders can be gauged by a series of instances which is a serious cause of concern,” he said.
Training his guns at the Ministry of External Affairs, the Congress leader said “The MEA’s vacuous statement yesterday, does not say a word about the alleged construction of military infrastructures by Chinese Army as depicted in satellite imagery produced in recent media reports.”
Surjewala was referring to reports in a section of the media, citing satellite images, suggested there has been a fresh build-up of Chinese troops in Doklam region.
MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on Thursday dismissed media reports about fresh Chinese troop build-up in Doklam region on the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction as “inaccurate and mischievous”.
The Congress leader said that the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s reported justification of the construction of infrastructure and the reported reaction by the MEA that “India is maintaining constant vigil and using established mechanisms” is only adding to the confusion.
“Modi government cannot have multiple stands on the Chinese misadventure. It will only harm India’s interests,” he said.
Hitting out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, Surjewala said, “The Congress government had approved raising of the Mountain Strike Corps along the China border with 90,274 additional soldiers at a cost of Rs 64,678 crore.”
“But under Modi government it still lies in the lurch,” he said.
He demanded that the Prime Minister take the nation into confidence and disclose the measures it has taken as well as its policies for the future.
Slamming the government over the rise in the ceasefire violations, the Congress leader said, “Since May 26, 2014 nearly 304 personnel of the security forces have died and over 194 civilians have lost their lives in Jammu and Kashmir alone”.
He said that ceasefire violations from across the border in the past 44 months of the Modi government has increased by an alarming 500 per cent, as compared to the last 44 months of the Congress led-UPA II government.
The Congress leader also raised question over the fall in the squadron of the Indian Air Force and shortage of officials in the Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Air Force.
IANS
