Such events are just meant to gain political mileage. Surgical strikes were a good tactical operation, but did not deter Pakistan from spreading terrorism.
LT GEN HS PANAG (RETD), defence analyst It’s a matter of aplomb that the nation would celebrate surgical strikes. The move will instil pride in the masses, reminding them of our ironfisted reply to our neighbours. BRIGADIER PAL SINGH (RETD), former army doctor
CHANDIGARH : Even as the central government on Friday clarified that the University Grants Commission (UGC) circular to varsities and other higher educational institutions for observing September 29 as the ‘Surgical Strike Day’ was just an advisory and not a directive, army veterans remain divided on the issue.
Lieutenant General HS Panag (retd), a defence analyst, told HT that such advisories were “ridiculous” and aimed at earning political mileage. He said that even though surgical strikes were a good tactical operation officially “owned by India” and “negated by Pakistan”, the move did not deter Pakistan from spreading terrorism and mutilating our soldiers.
“If any day of celebrations has to be marked, let it be the one commemorating the 1971 war on December 16 or the Kargil war on July 26,” he said.
However, Brigadier Pal Singh (retd), a doctor who joined the army to participate in wars of 1965 and 1971, said, “It is a matter of aplomb that the nation would celebrate the surgical strikes carried out on our adversaries by our army. The move to commemorate the feat will instil pride in the masses, reminding the nation of the iron fisted revulsion to our neighbours,” he said. ‘SURGICAL STRIKES NEEDED ELSEWHERE’ Meanwhile, Major Navdeep Singh (retd), an advocate with the Punjab and Haryana high court and founding president of Armed Forces Tribunal Bar Association, said, “I would much rather see a ‘surgical strike’ by the government on the appeals filed by it in the Supreme Court against its own disabled soldiers. I would much rather see a surgical strike on the travails of old veterans and military widows instead of chest thumping by armchair warriors and keyboard rambos, while for the soldier community, it is yet another day of struggle,” he said.
“The motive of the directive turned or termed advisory seems to be aimed at gaining on political front. We have a history full of such befitting moments of gallantry and worth celebrating for motivating and inspiring the youngsters,” said Lt Col Chand Singh Dhumi (retd).