Surgical strike row: After claiming no proof, Digvijaya says 'immense respect for Army'; BJP's Pak jibe

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday claimed “the DNA of Congress is pro-Pakistan,” a day after Congress leader Digvijaya Singh questioned the surgical strikes and accused the Centre of peddling lies.

Further targeting the Congress, Chouhan said they are committing the "sin" of lowering the morale of the armed forces.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Chouhan said, “The DNA of Congress is Pakistan-parast (pro-Pakistan). Sometimes they ask for a proof of surgical strike. At times they ask for proof of Lord Ram's existence, the evidence of Ram Setu." Chouhan said Digvijaya Singh while walking along with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked for a proof of surgical strike.

“They are committing the sin of lowering the morale of the armed forces. This shows they are standing with Pakistan,” the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.

Seeking a reply from Rahul Gandhi on Digvijaya Singh's remarks, Chouhan said, “What kind of Bharat Jodo Yatra is this? The Tukde-Tukde gang is marching with you. The morale of the armed forces is being lowered. Rahul Gandhi is also raising questions on the armed forces. This is not patriotism.”

Chouhan claimed Madhya Pradesh was the "stronghold" of the banned outfit Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) when Digvijaya Singh was the state's chief minister.

Addressing a public meeting during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, former Madhya Pradesh CM Digvijaya Singh questioned the surgical strikes.

The Rajya Sabha member also alleged that the Centre did not agree to the Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) request of flying its personnel from Srinagar to Delhi and 40 soldiers sacrificed their lives in Pulwama in 2019 in a terror attack.

As his comments stoked a major political row, the Congress distanced itself from them, saying they are "his own" and do not reflect the party's position.

Meanwhile,

Amid an ongoing row over Congress leader Digvijaya Singh questioning the authenticity of the 2019 surgical strikes, agitated party leader Jairam Ramesh lashed out at the media on Tuesday, saying all that needed to be said have already been done, and the questions should now be directed at the Prime Minister.

A day after Mr Singh triggered a controversy and the Congress distanced itself from his remarks, Mr Ramesh told the media during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir that all queries related to the surgical strike uproar have been answered by his party and the media needs to aim its questions at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mr Singh, trying to put an end to the row, also said, "I have got the greatest regard for the Defence forces", as the leaders marched on along with other padayatris.

(With agency inputs)

Also watch: His view is not party position: Congress on Digvijay's 'surgical strike' criticism of Centre