This Article is From Sep 30, 2015

In Bihar Rally, Amit Shah's Controversial Comment on Army's Myanmar Strike

BJP President Amit Shah addressing Karyakarta Sammelan at Harsh Garden at Singhol in Begusarai. (Press Trust of India photo)

Begusarai, Bihar: In a comment that could be controversial, BJP president Amit Shah today referred to the Indian army's strike on militant camps in Myanmar earlier this year to demonstrate that the Narendra Modi government was tougher than the Congress.

Mr Shah made the comment as he mocked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while addressing a rally in Bihar's Begusarai ahead of next month's polls.

"Rahul 'Baba' - no one dares to slaughter anyone in our regime. If anyone tries, we enter Burma's borders and our forces take them out, that is what Narendra Modi's government is all about. You wouldn't know how to protect a country. The BJP's main agenda is the country's security. What do you know - you have got your perspective from your mother's side of the family," Mr Shah said.

In June, the army launched a major counter-operation after 18 soldiers were killed in an ambush by militants in Manipur. In a joint operation with the Air Force, the Army attacked two militant camps in neighbouring Myanmar.

Days after that strike, opposition parties criticised the Modi government over statements made by its ministers.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said that "those who fear India's new posture have started reacting" and another union minister, former army officer Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that the operation was "a message to other countries."

Bihar will hold five-phase assembly polls on 12 October and the results will be announced on November 8.
 
.