Army not required to provide evidence: Rahul Gandhi fires Digvijaya Singh’s surgical strike blooper.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday distanced himself from senior party leader Digvijaya Singh after he questioned the credibility of India’s surgical strike in neighboring Pakistan.

The Gandhi successor clarified that Singh’s comments reflected his personal views and were not confused with party policy. Gandhi asserted that he had great respect for the Indian Army.

“We do not appreciate Digvijaya Singh’s personal views. His views are extroverted views. We are absolutely clear that the armed forces are doing their job well and they don’t need to provide proof,” Rahul Gandhi told a press conference.

Notably, Digvijaya Singh did not attend the press conference today after his controversial comment caused a political backlash.

#WATCH | We don’t appreciate Digvijaya Singh’s personal views. His views are outlying views. We are absolutely clear that the Armed Forces do their job exceptionally well and they do not need to provide proof of that: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/O67iRg8aNk

— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2023

Speaking on the sidelines of the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu on Monday, Digvijaya Singh expressed doubts about the cross-border military operation. “They (the Centre) are talking about surgical strikes and they have killed many of them, but there is no evidence. They are ruling with a bundle of lies,” he had said.

In September 2016, India launched a surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC) in response to a terrorist attack on an army base in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri sector.

The Congress distanced itself from Singh’s comments questioning the 2019 surgical strike, saying the comments did not reflect the party’s stance of supporting all military action in the national interest.

The comments made by senior leader Digvijaya Singh are his own views and do not reflect the stand of the Congress. Surgical strikes were conducted by the UPA government before 2014. Congress has supported and will continue to support all military actions in the national interest. AICC General Secretary, Communications, Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter on Monday.

Singh’s comments drew sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused the Congress of being “blindsided” by its “hate” towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and “insulting” the armed forces.