By IANS,
New Delhi : The government Tuesday warned against jingoism over the escalating border tensions with Pakistan, saying that while the entire country is outraged over the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers on the LoC, the responses should be left to “professionals tasked with the responsibility”.
“Expressing outrage is understood, but there is need to keep away from jingoism,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said on the sidelines of an event here.
His statement was in response to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj reportedly saying that if the missing head of an Indian soldier could not be brought back from Pakistan then “at least 10 heads should be brought from their side”.
“There is no doubt that the entire country is outraged about the way our armed forces have been treated. However, the response is best left to professionals who are tasked with the responsibility,” he said.
“There is need to calm down..There has to be an element of sobriety,’ he said.
Tewari also denied any discrepancy in the responses of the government and that of the armed forces to the border tensions, especially with the latter striking a tough line.
“There is no discrepancy at all. We have expressed our concern and outrage. We should leave the response to professionals..which means the national security establishment,” he said.
Border tensions between India and Pakistan have sharply escalated since Jan 6 when a Pakistani soldier was killed allegedly in firing by Indian troops on the Line of Control that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
Two days later (Jan 8), two Indian soldiers were killed, including one beheaded, by Pakistani soldiers in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The soldiers were identified as Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh and Lance Naik Hemraj of the Rajputana Rifles. Hemraj’s headless body was recovered after the Pakistani assault.
A Pakistani soldier was killed two days later in alleged firing by Indian troops along the LoC.
Both countries have summoned the envoys of the other in their respective national capitals to register their protest over the killing and a flag meeting was also held Monday between their forces.