Congress attacks Centre over soldiers' killings, slams govt's Pakistan policy

Pakistani troops opened fire on an Indian Army patrol, killing a Major and three soldiers in Keri sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Saturday.

New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday attacked the Centre over the killing of four Indian soldiers along the LoC by Pakistani troops, saying the incident raises questions over the government's ability to protect the country's borders.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said December 23's incident along the Line of Control (LoC) was an outcome of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "flip-flops and somersaults" on Pakistan.

Pakistani troops opened fire on an Indian Army patrol, killing a Major and three soldiers in Keri sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, yesterday.

Tewari claimed that there have been 900 attempts of incursion by Pakistan this year, out of which 780 cases have been reported along the LoC and 120 along the International Border (IB).

"There were 583 major ceasefire violations in 2014 (between June-December), 400 in 2015, 450 in 2016 and 900 this year. The prime minister points fingers at others, accuses people who have occupied top posts of committing treason but this government seems incapable of protecting our borders," the former union minister told reporters.

Modi, during the Gujarat assembly polls campaign, had suggested that Pakistan was trying to influence the Assembly polls in the state.

The government and the Congress are involved in a face- off over prime minister Modi's 'conspiracy with Pakistan' remarks against his predecessor Manmohan Singh.

Tewari said that the BJP government's Pakistan policy is driven by "flip-flops, somersaults and adhocism" and demanded that the prime minister comes clear on his agenda behind his 2015 stopover in 
Lahore or the Centre's decision to allow ISI personnel at the Pathankor terror attack site.

He said India's neighbourhood policy was in tatters under the BJP dispensation as apart from the "frequent" Pakistani shelling along the border and incursions, the new Nepalese government was overtly tilting towards China.

"In Sri Lanka, growing Chinese influence is a matter of concern. Maldives has signed an FTA (Free Trade Agreement) with China disregarding India's position. China has constructed permanent structures in Dokalam," he said.