‘General Hooda’s appointment in Congress acceptance of surgical strikes’

New Delhi: A day after the Congress formed a committee on national security headed by Lt. General D.S. Hooda (retired), Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said his appointment was grudging “recognition” and “acceptance” of the 2016 surgical strikes that India carried out to avenge the killing of soldiers in Uri. In a blog, Jaitley said the new advisor would render advice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi on strategic issues and consistency on national security. “The appointment of General Hooda is significant. It is a belated and grudging recognition and acceptance of the surgical strikes of 2016 with which the General was intrinsically associated,” he said.

“I am sure the Head of the Advisory Panel would educate the party leaders that the surgical strikes were no routine step which had been taken several times in the past, but a significant first for India,” he added. Jaitley said Hooda is an experienced and distinguished former officer of the Indian Army and he does not have the least doubt that the General would give very valuable advice to the grand old party. He said the party which has ruled the country for over half a century needing to be educated on national security concerns is somewhat intriguing. (IANS)

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