Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 7

The Opposition in the Rajya Sabha today targeted Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for his remarks on surgical strikes where he had credited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideology, instead of the soldiers.The issue was raised during the zero hour by Congress member Shantaram Naik who said the Defence Minister, in a statement, had credited the RSS ideology for the surgical strikes instead of the brave soldiers, while in another statement the minister said India had never carried out surgical strikes before. Naik also urged the minister not to make policy statements outside Parliament.The Congress leader suggested that the minister should not “ridicule” the country by making statements which could be construed to be “in a bad taste”.He also referred to the statement made by the minister on nuclear doctrine at a recent book launch. Naik said Parrikar had then “articulated a personal view which is contrary to India’s ‘no first use’ of nuclear weapons. This doctrine has come for adverse comments from many strategists”.“If the Defence Minister is making an aggressive posture, how the government had failed to ensure reciprocal visit (to Pakistan) after it permitted a Pakistani delegation to visit sensitive areas in Pathankot,” he asked.Naik’s views received support from other members, including JD-U leader Sharad Yadav and Anand Sharma of the Congress. As Opposition members sought the minister’s reply, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said he could not ask the minister to respond.