The Congress on Monday demanded a special two-day session of Parliament to discuss the killing of Indian soldiers at Uri and to pass a resolution declaring Pakistan a terrorist state.
Party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the Modi government should impose economic sanctions against Pakistan and withdraw the MFN (most favoured nation) status given to it in matters of trade.
“It is nine days since the Uri attack,” Mr. Singhvi said, “and the government is looking weak. Our national security is under serious threat and everyone wants serious action, not just strong statements. Aimless political strategy cannot be a synonym for strategic restraint. Strategic ambiguity is not a strategic response.”
He asked for political and administrative accountability to be fixed for the tragic episode. Incidents such as those in Pathankot and Uri had not happened in over two decades. The intelligence and security measures adopted after the Mumbai attack in 2008 had been diluted by the government.
On the Indus Water Treaty, Mr. Singhvi said it was up to the government to calibrate action. The pact was another element in the multi-pronged, multi-faceted approach against Pakistan. “It is ultimately for the government to calibrate and it does not necessarily start from abrogation, though let me remind you that Article 62 of the Vienna Convention provides for such withdrawal,” he said. Short of withdrawal, there were “many other methodologies and methods” available to the government. Citing an example, he said India could construct more dams, allowed under the treaty.
He said he was not making any suggestions or demands. “All I can say is that we cannot be a silent spectator to the muscular jingoism every day with no action on the ground.”
