Surgical strikes: Rahul Gandhi praises PM Modi; says Congress party and the entire nation stands by him

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Friday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a day after the Indian Army conducted surgical strikes across the Line of control (LoC).

"I want to thank him (PM Modi) that for the first time in two and half years he has taken an action that is of the stature of PM," said Rahul addressing a rally in Bulandshahar. "Modi has my full support; the Congress party and entire nation is standing by him," he added.

"All of us stand firmly united against terrorism and those who support and sponsor it. The Congress party and I salute the Indian Army and our jawans for acting valiantly to defend our country and our people," Rahul had said on Thursday.

Adding that India had also shared details of the surgical strikes with Pakistan Army and expected them to cooperate in the fight against terror, he said, "The motive of this operation was to hit out at the terrorists who were planning to infiltrate into our territory."

Pakistan has, however, denied the strikes took place, with PM Nawaz Sharif saying, "The notion of surgical strike linked to alleged terrorists bases is an illusion being deliberately generated by Indian to create false effects."