Stop surgical strikes hysteria: PM Modi

Modi is understood to have told his ministerial colleagues that only authorised people should speak on the issue of surgical strikes and one should avoid speaking out-of-turn. His word of caution came against the backdrop of demands that the government should present proof about the cross-LoC raids to counter the smear campaign by Pakistan. The demand has triggered a raging debate on whether the proof should be provided or not. The BJP and experts are against disclosing details. Congress on the other  hand favoured use of all “information, evidence and instruments” to call Pakistan’s bluff. 

In a related development, the Army has handed over to the government video clips of the cross-LoC surgical strikes as per laid down procedure, Union Minister Hansraj Ahir said. Meanwhile, the 12-nation Kabaddi World Cup kicks off this week in India, with a row over a decision to bar arch-rivals Pakistan from competing threatening to overshadow the tag-wrestling sport’s showcase event. International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) chief Deoraj Chaturvedi said Pakistan has been denied entry because of a spike in tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.