Parrikar has foot-in-mouth disease: Congress

Defence Minister says, those who “fear India’s new posture" have already started reacting

NEW DEHLI:

India’s operations against Myanmar insurgents hog headlines again with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar saying those who “fear India’s new posture” have already started reacting.

“If the thinking pattern changes a lot of things change. You have seen the same for the last 2-3 days. A simple action against insurgents has changed the mindset of the full security scenario in the country,” he said addressing a seminar in New Delhi.  But his remarks were widely interpreted as being directed against Pakistan.

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Meanwhile, a war of words broke out between the opposition Congress and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defence minister over use of words. Asking ministers to stop making “boastful and jingoistic” statements on the Army operation in Myanmar, Congress spokesman Ananad Sharma requested PM Narendra Modi to mentor them. Sharma faulted Parrikar’s statement saying he has “foot-in-mouth” disease and is in the “habit” of making “irresponsible” statements.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2015.