Uri attack: What stops PM Modi from calling an all-party meet over Pakistan policy, asks Congress

India has never seethed with as much anger as it has in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack. The social media is furious with the Modi government's ineffectiveness both in terms of stopping terror attacks and replying to Pakistan 'in the same language which it understands'.

On the other hand, the main opposition party Congress has pledged its full support to the Centre in whatever it does to isolate and expose Pakistan. However, it has hit out at the Modi government for neither having a clear-cut Pakistan policy nor consulting the Opposition parties to find out a solution to the problem.

Also read: Top security officials brief Modi on how to tackle Pakistan post Uri attacks

The outrage coming from the social media and the Opposition parties is fairly justified. Not because they disapprove of the Modi government's action. But because of its inaction not just post-Uri, but also after similar terror attacks in Udhampur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Pampore in the last couple of years.

SOCIAL MEDIA SLAMS GOVT's PAK POLICY

The social media has pulled out all the old statements Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj issued as the then Gujarat chief minister and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha respectively. They had come down heavily on the Manmohan Singh government in the wake of terror attacks, accusing it of inaction. They had also promised to reverse the situation if the BJP came to power.

However, after every terror attack in the last two years, Modi and his Cabinet colleagues are merely seen "strongly condemning" the act. They are being mocked for issuing hollow threats to Pakistan, warning it of dire consequences and a befitting reply. Closed-door meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Security are held after every such attack, but the final outcome has remained a cipher.

Also read: Uri effect: India may withdraw Most Favoured Nation status accorded to Pakistan

The Congress has ridiculed the BJP government's Pakistan policy or the lack of it. Simultaneously, however, it expects the Centre to "start doing what needs to be done" and "stop being social media warriors".

CONSULT PREDECESSORS, SUGGESTS CONG

Talking to India Today Digital, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari questioned the Centre's approach in dealing with the situation arising out of the Uri incident. "What stops Modi from talking to his predecessor Manmohan Singh, what stops External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj from calling her predecessors, what stops Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar from sitting and discussing with AK Antony or what stops National Security Advisor Ajit Doval from consulting MK Narayanan?"

He criticised the Government for not calling an all-party meeting to discuss the situation.

Also read: Isolated Pakistan gets an earful from US: Act on Uri terrorists

Asked why the Congress was just critiquing the Centre but not advising it on what to do and what not to, Tewari said, "We are not giving any unsolicited advice to the Government. We do not favour giving suggestions till formally sought. The Government can at least call an all-party meeting. It can act upon the suggestions if they are worth it."

Another Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed echoed Tewari's views. "It is for the Centre to come up with proposals and subsequently formalise a concrete Pakistan policy. In this hour of political crisis, the Congress does not want to politicise the issue," he said.

'BACK GOVT ON ACTION AGAINST PAK'

"I am of the view that the Congress will stand by the Modi govt in whatever it does to isolate Pakistan. The Congress will support all actions of the government to put pressure on the neighbouring country to desist from carrying out nefarious activities," he said.

Ahmed sought to remind that after the 26/11 terror attack of 2008 in Mumbai, the Congress-led UPA government acted in such a way that Pakistan did not dare to indulge in any attack on Indian soldiers or installations. It is only because of PM Modi's haphazard policy that Pakistan has started striking at will, he said.

Also read: Uri attack: Radio sets, GPS devices recovered from terrorists may hold key to investigations

"First Modi invited Nawaz Sharif at his government's swearing-in ceremony, subsequently he indulged in saree-shawl diplomacy followed by visiting Karachi to cut cake on his Pakistani counterpart's birthday. These activities emboldened Pakistan to perpetrate terror on Indian soil," he said.

Ahmed feels PM Modi has let Pakistan off the hook due to his bonhomie and 'over-indulgence' with Sharif. "But the Congress is still committed to backing the Government in whatever measures it takes to isolate and expose Pakistan," he said.