Leaders across party lines back govt move

In the wake of the Army’s surgical strikes along the LoC late Wednesday night, the Centre Thursday called an all-party meeting to brief leaders about the attacks and other related developments.

The meeting, which was chaired by Union home minister Rajnath Singh and attended by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, defence minister Manohar Parrikar, NSA Ajit Doval, BJP national president Amit Shah along with senior leaders of all major political parties, was an attempt by the ruling party and its government at the Centre to win some favour within the Opposition after facing heavy criticism following the terrorist attack at an army base in Uri earlier this month, which had claimed lives of 18 soldiers.

The Opposition parties have assured the government of taking a bipartisan stand on the issue.

At the meeting, Mr Doval and Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh shared details of the surgical strikes carried out by the Army, and also briefed about the Army’s preparedness in case of any retaliation from across the border.

The government is also learnt to have shared the “reasons” behind its decision to attack the “terror launch pads in PoK” through which several attacks have been carried out in Indian soil in the past.

Ms Swaraj told the all-party meeting about the steps India will be taking on the diplomatic front. Envoys of several countries, too, have been briefed by her ministry about the steps India is taking to counter Pakistan at the international level, it is learnt. Extending support to the government, Opposition leaders at the meeting clarified that there is “no difference of opinion at the political level”.