'Constant hype over surgical strikes unwarranted': Who said what on Lt Gen DS Hooda's remarks

Two years after the surgical strikes carried out by the Army across the Line of Control, Lt Gen (retd) D S Hooda Friday said it was natural to have an initial euphoria over the success but the constant hype around the operation was unwarranted. Gen Hooda was speaking during a panel discussion on the topic, 'Role of Cross-Border Operations and Surgical Strikes,' on the first day of Military Literature Festival 2018 here.

Lt Gen Hooda said it was natural to have initial euphoria about the success but the constant maintenance of hype around the military operations was unwarranted, the release said. 

(Photo: PTI)

Responding to a question from the audience, General Hooda said in hindsight, it would have been better had we done it (surgical strikes) secretly. The aim of any such offensive had to be not only tactical but strategic too, which substantially hampers enemy morale, he said.

Citing the example of the 1981 Israeli air strikes on Iraqi nuclear sites, which had caused considerable damage, Lt General (retd) NS Brar underscored the need to ensure long-term impact on the enemy before undertaking any such operation in the future.

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Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday dismissed as "individual person's perception" the remarks made by Hooda. "These are individual person's perceptions so let's not comment on them. He was one of the main persons involved in conduct of these operations so I respect his words very much," Rawat said. 

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The surgical strikes were a successful tactical operation which conveyed a clear message to Pakistan to stop any misadventure along the LoC, Army's Northern Command Chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said on Saturday.

"From military point of view, these were successful tactical operations, which conveyed a very strategic message and the Indian Army was able to convey a very clear message to Pakistan that should they not stop any kind of misadventure along the LoC, they shall be given befitting reply," Singh told reporters in Kapurthala.

(Photo: ANI)

Ranbir Singh, the then Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), who had announced the operation at a press conference in New Delhi in 2016, refused to comment on the politicisation of surgical strikes. Singh said all actions carried out by the Army along the LoC were carried out in an extremely professional manner to meet the national aspirations and achieve the military objectives. He said there are many other options to check infiltration of terrorists from across the border.

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Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Hooda's remarks, alleging that the PM used the military action for "political capital". "Spoken like a true soldier General. India is so proud of you. Mr 36 has absolutely no shame in using our military as a personal asset. He used the surgical strikes for political capital and the Rafale deal to increase Anil Ambani’s real capital by 30,000 Cr," Rahul said. 

(Photo: PTI)

Events were organised across the country, including at educational institutions, to celebrate 'Parakram Parv', a three-day long event to mark the second anniversary of the surgical strikes against terrorists in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in 2016. An exhibition at India Gate in New Delhi was inaugurated on Sept 28 by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to mark the second anniversary of the 2016 surgical strikes.

(Photo: Twitter)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated on September 28 the Parakram Parv exhibition at the military station in Jodhpur to mark the second anniversary of the surgical strikes carried out by the Army.

(Photo: PTI)