Cong attacks PM on national security record

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 14

The Congress today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “poor record” on national security and asked him to answer why he was unable to prevent disquiet on the border with Pakistan.

Recalling Modi’s pre-2014 election campaign speeches where he questioned the then PM Manmohan Singh for “failing to check infiltration, flow of arms across borders and ceasefire violations”, the Congress today said, “PM Modi should now himself answer those questions.”

The Congress also played a video clip of 2014 in which Narendra Modi, the then prime ministerial candidate of the BJP, said, “You need a 56-inch chest to check infiltration, Naxalism and ceasefire violations.” “Where is the PM’s 56-inch chest now?” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.

He said in the 45 months of the BJP government, there have been 207 major terror incidents as compared to only 96 in the corresponding period during the UPA regime.

“Soldier casualties in BJP’s time have been 286 and these were 115 in our time. Civilian casualties in BJP’s 45 months have been 138 and under our regime these were 72. Ceasefire violations in BJP’s 45 months have been 2,555. During the UPA’s 45 months, these were five times less at 543.”

The Congress asked the PM to stop answering with “jumlas” when confronted with serious questions on “his failure on national security”.

“When we ask any question, we get lecture in nationalism and patriotism from the BJP. We get jumlas. Figures speak for themselves. A zigzag foreign policy is endangering our jawans. Can the government get away each time by pointing at the neighbour that does not care?” he asked.