Modi has my support, he acted like PM for 1st time: Rahul on ‘surgical strikes’

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said on Friday he supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “acting like a PM” over the Indian Army’s surgical strikes on terror “launchpads” across the de-facto border with Pakistan.

“The Congress and entire India stand by him over this (surgical strikes),” Gandhi said at a rally.

Gandhi is on a 2500km ‘Kisan Yatra’ across Uttar Pradesh, seeking to revive the Congress in a state it dominated before regional parties built along caste lines displaced it from power 27 years ago.

Gandhi, however, also took a dig at Modi: “I want to thank him for taking an action like a PM for the first time in two-and-a-half years. I support him entirely.”

All political parties on Thursday firmly backed the Modi government on the strikes on seven terror targets, India’s first military response to an attack in Uri that killed 18 soldiers, and lauded the army for ensuring the country’s security.

“This is a strong message that conveys our country’s resolve to prevent further infiltration and attacks on our security forces and our people,” a statement by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi read.

Her party supported the government in its actions to protect the country’s security and deal with the menace of terrorism from across the border, she said. The same sentiments were expressed during the meeting by all sides.

All political parties unanimously supported the army action across the LoC, information and broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu said.

The move by the government could have wide domestic and security implications for India, where a narrative of a triumphant military campaign could influence a series of impending state polls. It could also trigger a possible escalation in tensions along the Line of Control (LoC).