Educational institutions in WB won't celebrate 'Surgical Strike Day': Minister
What's the story
The University Grants Commission (UGC) direction to universities to mark September 29 as the "Surgical Strike Day" is a part of the Bhartiya Janta Party's "agenda" and educational institutes in West Bengal will not celebrate the day, said the state's Education Minister, Partha Chatterjee.
The Education Minister today criticized the BJP-led central government for trying to "malign and politicize" the Army.
Here's more.
Operation
Surgical strikes were carried out on 7 terrorists launchpads
On September 29, 2016, the Indian Army carried out "surgical strikes" on seven terrorist launchpads across the Line of Control (LoC) as a response to an attack on its base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir earlier that month.
The Indian Army had said its special forces inflicted "significant casualties" on terrorists waiting there to cross onto the Indian territory.
Information
BJP trying to push political agenda using UGC: Chatterjee
"It's a matter of shame that the BJP is using the UGC to achieve their political agenda," Chatterjee said. Talk sessions by ex-servicemen about sacrifices by the armed forces and special parades by NCC are among the prescribed events by the UGC for the celebration.
Politics
BJP trying to politicize and malign Indian Army: Chatterjee
Chatterjee said, "We would have understood it had they asked us to observe the day in the name of sacrifices made by our soldiers. We have full respect for our soldiers."
"Army has always been kept above politics and controversies. But now we're seeing that the BJP is trying to politicize the Indian Army. This isn't right and we won't support it," he said.