Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar revealed that an insulting question from a TV Anchor to Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore after the 2015 Anti-Insurgency Operation across the Myanmar border led him to plan Surgical Strikes on the Line of Control the year past.
Manohar Parrikar, currently the chief minister of Goa, revealed that the surgical strikes were planned 15 months in advance. He was insulted when a small 200-member terrorist organization (NSCN-K) killed 18 jawans attacking the Indian Army convoy in the Chandel district of Manipur on June 4, 2015. Immediately, the Defense Minister held talks with Army. After the surgical strike was conducted on June 8 along the border of India-Mynmar and 70-80 terrorists were killed. None of the Indian soldiers were injured and the helicopters were only used as stand in this operation.
Following this successful surgical strike, a television anchor asked Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, a former Army official, “Do you have the courage and ability to carry out a surgical strike on the Western Front?” It was then that Parrikar decided that he would answer the question when the time came. The surgical strike on September 29 last year was planned on June 9, 2015. The necessary equipment was acquired and the troops were trained to carry out the operation successfully. Swathi Weapon Locating Radar, which was a creation of DRDO, was used for the first time to locate units of shot of the Army of Pakistan. Up to 40 fire units were destroyed during the surgical strike.
Manohar Parrikar, however, did not reveal the identity of the Anchor that raised the question to the Minister of the Union. Of course, the media will not find it difficult to know the answer as the interview might still be available for viewing.
