Intriguing that Congress needs lessons on national security: Arun Jaitley

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said that it is "intriguing" that the Congress party which ruled India for half a decade needs to be educated on national security issues, a day after the party roped in surgical strike architect D S Hooda to head a national security task force. In a blog, Jaitley also asked Congress not to give an impression that India is divided on how to fight terror. Lt Gen D S Hooda (Retd) will head a Congress task force on national security. Acknowledging General Hooda as an experienced and distinguished former officer of the Indian Army, Jaitley said, "I have not the least doubt that he would give very valuable advice to the grand old Party".

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Jaitley, who also held the defence ministry portfolio for a brief period in the NDA government, further said the Congress which has ruled the country for over half a century "should need to be educated on national security concerns is somewhat intriguing".

"Do not give an impression to the world that India is divided on how to fight terrorism. When the world is rallying around India, the Opposition in India should not be striking a discordant note," the minister said. 

"Our Armed forces are amongst the most professional organisations which have served this country exceedingly well. They work under civilian command and maintain an arm's length distance from the internal politics of the country.

The Congress has been accusing the Modi government of politicising the surgical strikes. "Politicians of any shade of opinion should not get into a slanging match with any of the services personnel or their Chief. The Chief of a Force can't be described as a 'Sadak ka Goonda'," he added. 

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Also, "when security personnel fight the terrorists and make sacrifices (eg Batla House), do not legitimise terrorism by standing shoulder to shoulder with the terrorists and call the war against terror as a fake encounter" he said. 

"I am sure there would be many serious inputs relating to the security strategy that experts would give to the Congress Party.