Cong, BJP spar over terror attack

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 30

Four days after the Gurdaspur attack, the ruling BJP and opposition Congress were caught in a verbal spat today over the issue of national security and urgency to debate it.

The duel, triggered by Congress’ disruption of the Rajya Sabha during Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement on the attack, saw the BJP accusing the Congress of putting “petty politics above national security”.  Congress leader Randeep Surjewala defended the party saying: “At least on terrorism we do not need sermons from anyone. We have suffered and countered terrorism from Punjab to the northeast and have lost our leaders in the process.” 

The anti-Congress attack was led by Leader of Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, who said, “On a day like today, when the whole country should have spoken in one voice, we did not expect the Congress to present India as a divided house.” 

Congress Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma hit back saying: “We have been asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reveal the truth behind his Ufa meeting with (his) Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. Parliament is still in the dark about that. You still expect us to be silent?”