Navjot Sidhu targets Modi govt, says 'intelligence failure' led to Pulwama terror attack

Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been slammed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for his comments in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror strike, launched a fresh attack on the Narendra Modi government, saying “intelligence failure led to martyrdom of 40 jawans.”

World’s biggest defence deal file lost...
Intelligence failure led to martyrdom of 40 Jawans...
1708 terrorist acts...
48 Satellites but Govt not able to discern between trees and structures...

Serious aspersions cast on national security. #IsTheCountryReallyInSafeHands?? pic.twitter.com/Xr66YSRGB5

— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) March 8, 2019

The Punjab minister for local bodies and tourism had earlier hit out at the BJP by reminding it of the release of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar 20 years ago during the Kandahar standoff in 1999. The minister had also sought exemplary action against those behind terrorist activities.

“World’s biggest defence deal file lost... Intelligence failure led to martyrdom of 40 Jawans... 1708 terrorist acts... 48 Satellites but Govt not able to discern between trees and structures... Serious aspersions cast on national security,” tweeted Sidhu on Friday.

 The Congress had earlier said the current atmosphere was not conducive for a dialogue with Pakistan and termed the suggestions made in this regard by its leader and Sidhu as his personal opinion and not that of the party.

"There is a time to act and there is a time to talk. Dialogue can only take place when the atmosphere is conducive for dialogue and the current atmosphere is not conducive for a dialogue," Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari had said.

The Punjab minister had insisted that dialogue and diplomatic pressure will count for in seeking a long-term solution to terror outfits operating across the border, amid strain in India-Pakistan ties in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack and subsequent developments.

 The 40 CRPF personnel were travelling in a force bus when a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the bus on February 14. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has deployed as many as 61 battalions in the state, with about 65,000 personnel, and is the lead counter-terrorist and internal security force in the Kashmir valley.