Congress leader and former Defence Minister A.K. Antony has condemned the ‘anti-national’ efforts being made to appropriate armed forces for political gains. He has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making falsehoods to discredit past governments of the country.
Addressing a press meet here on Saturday, Mr. Antony contested the claims made by the National Democratic Alliance-led Union government.
“Contrary to Mr. Modi’s claim, surgical strikes were undertaken on several instances in the past, including thrice during my term as Defence Minister and even when A.B. Vajpayee was at the helm,” he said. He accused Mr. Modi of tom-toming ‘trumped-up achievements’ including his claim that he had strengthened national security in an unprecedented manner.
“Nothing could be further from truth. The country ranked among the most powerful military powers owing to the contributions of its past leaders. Research institutions including the DRDO, ISRO, and BARC would not have thrived had it not been for the framework laid down by the visionary Jawaharlal Nehru,” Mr. Antony said.
He dismissed claims that no other government had retaliated against cross-border terrorism like the current dispensation.
