Today, during the parliamentary debate in the Lok Sabha on "Operation Sindoor," Home Minister Amit Shah discussed the Indian Army's recent military actions. He also spoke about the Congress party's historical record, talked about the creation of Pakistan, the 1948 ceasefire in Kashmir, and the outcome of the 1971 war. He connected these past events to the country's present security situation.
Here are eight points from the Home Minister's speech:
Shah said in his speech that the creation of Pakistan was a "mistake committed by the Congress." Further stating that if the party had not agreed to the partition, the subcontinent would not have divided and a source of terrorism in the region would not exist.
Shah directed criticism at India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. He said that in 1948, the Indian armed forces were in the position to reclaim all of Kashmir. Nehru's decision to declare a ceasefire, however, allowed for the creation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Shah said, "If Pakistan-occupied Kashmir exists today, it is because of Jawaharlal Nehru's ceasefire." He added that this decision was made even after the opposition of Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Shah referred to the 1971 war with Pakistan. He noted that 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered and that India controlled 15,000 square kilometers of Pakistani land. He said the Shimla Agreement that followed did not result in the return of PoK.
The Home Minister compared the UPA government's response to terrorism with the current government's. He mentioned the 27 terrorist attacks that happened between 2005 and 2011, and said the Congress government's response was to send dossiers to Pakistan. He said that under the Modi government, there are no "local terrorists" in Kashmir, and the insurgency happens due to the terrorists sent from Pakistan.
Shah spoke about the 1962 Sino-Indian War and a speech by Prime Minister Nehru on All India Radio. Shah said Nehru "had effectively 'bid goodbye to Assam'" in the speech, which has been interpreted by some as giving up the territory to Chinese forces.
Shah gave details about the recent military operations. He said the armed forces damaged Pakistan's defense systems so much that Pakistan requested a stop to the attacks. He said that on May 10, Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) called his Indian counterpart, and a ceasefire was announced after that.
Regarding the military action, Shah said that India's Army, Air Force, and Navy were not damaged, but Pakistan's ability to attack was. He said this outcome was the result of the government's policy.
Shah's speech indicated that the Congress party is responsible for past decisions that he called "historical blunders." He argued that decisions related to the partition and responses to terror created security challenges that the current government is addressing.
