Centre announced ceasefire without consulting armed forces: Himachal CM Sukhu

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday alleged that the Central Government declared a ceasefire with Pakistan without taking the three armed forces into confidence.

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“The Union Government declared a ceasefire without taking the three armed forces into confidence and shockingly, the announcement came through social media from a third country,” he said addressing the ‘Jai Hind Sabha’ here.

The chief minister said this is in stark contrast to the decisive leadership of former prime minister late Indira Gandhi, who never compromised with national security.

Recalling the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Sukhu said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was the first to offer unconditional support to the Union Government in the fight against terrorism, a statement issued here said.

“Our brave soldiers gave a befitting reply to the terrorists,” said Sukhu. The state government and people have always stood with the Indian armed forces, he added.

Sharing a recent experience, the chief minister mentioned his recent visit to Sharchi village in Tirthan Valley, where he stayed at the home of former soldier — Subedar Major Anoop Ram.

“Anoop Kumar discussed with me about the 1971 India-Pakistan war and recalled how the address of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi instilled patriotic zeal and boosted the morale of the Indian Army. The outcome of that war was historic and India split Pakistan into two, and Shimla later became witness to the landmark Simla Agreement,” he said.

The Simla Agreement was a peace treaty signed between India and Pakistan on July 2, 1972, in Shimla. It followed the India-Pakistan war of 1971.

Sukhu said that the valour of the soldiers of Himachal Pradesh was unmatched. “Our soldiers never hesitated to sacrifice their lives for the nation. Himachali soldiers have the honour of being decorated with four Param Vir Chakras, which is a testament to the state’s legacy of courage and sacrifice,” he added.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Ajay Maken said that several surgical strikes were carried in 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2014, and Pakistan was taught a lesson, but his party never politicised it as the credit goes to the Indian armed forces. It is always the brave soldiers, who sacrifice their lives for the nation, but the Congress never boasted of it or took credit, he added.

MP Rajni Patil, the Congress in-charge for Himachal Pradesh, said that senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have given instructions to organise ‘Jai Hind Sabha’.

The valour of the Indian Army is being honored through these meetings, she said. The entire nation stood with the Army and the Centre in the fight against terrorism, but it was “unfortunate” that the ceasefire was announced by a third country, she added.

State Congress chief Pratibha Singh echoed similar sentiments and said that the party has decided to organise such programmes at the district level as well.

The kin of martyrs, soldiers and various gallantry award recipients, who have made the supreme sacrifice for the country, were also honoured on the occasion. The chief minister presented a cheque of Rs 30 lakh to the family of martyr Subedar Major Pawan, who died in shelling by the Pakistan Army in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch on May 10.