New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an interview to ANI on Tuesday, said that he firmly believes that the 2016 surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) should not have been politicised, and that the government was committed to ensuring that did not happen. However, the Prime Minister said that the opposition 'used' the operation in their intrigue, thereby politicising what should have rather been seen as a great victory for the Indian soldiers.    

"I am myself of the opinion that there should not have been a politicisation of the surgical strikes. There is no dispute in that. When the strikes were conducted, neither the PM, nor any minister of the government issued a statement. The Army informed the nation. It was also conveyed to Pakistan over the telephone. Unless that was done, the Indian media was not informed too. 

"But it was the nation's misfortune that some political leaders questioned the veracity of the surgical strikes. Pakistan had to deny (that the operation happened), but some people from India were speaking in Pakistan's tones. To substantiate their allegations, they were also taking the example of Pakistan. The politicisation started from there. 

"These leaders spoke disparagingly about the Army and I think it was completely wrong for those people to doubt the nation's Army and the surgical strikes and on the very first day dismiss the fact that the strikes were undertaken." 

On being asked if the BJP has not 'advertised' the surgical strikes as an achievement of the Modi sarkar, the Prime Minister said it was necessary to take the stories of the bravery of our soldiers to the people. 

Also read - PM Modi on surgical strikes: Govt celebrated soldiers' courage, Opposition politicised operation

"It is our duty to celebrate the courage of our soldiers, whether it was in the war of 1962, or in the surgical strikes. If we don't feel proud of the people who are forever ready to lay their lives down in defence of the country, who will? It isn't politicisation (of the surgical strikes)," the PM said.  

Modi said that he was in direct and live contact with the team that carried out the operations and had made it a point that no Indian soldier should get killed irrespective of whether the strikes were a success or a failure. 

"When Uri (attack) happened, and the way the Indian soldiers were killed, it made me uncomfortable and angry. But I represent a democratic system and my personal feelings should not have influenced the system. But when I talked to the people in the Army, I realised that the military was seething with rage. They wanted justice for their comrades (killed in Uri). 

"I asked them to chalk out a plan and told them, do whatever you have to. We will decide later how much can be done. I gave them a free hand. We had to change dates twice. I wanted a fool-proof plan. I know there was a huge risk. Not political risks, mind you! But I was anxious about my jawans because they were going to war on my word, putting their lives at stake," Modi said.  

"The soldiers were given special training and the geography of the terrain they were going to venture into and the obstacles were factored in. It was a learning experience for me too. Then the date was decided. It was agreed upon that the soldiers would return before sunrise. I had given clear instruction that success or failure, the jawans have to return before sunrise. In the eagerness to hunt down the enemy, we should not stretch the operation. I was not going to let our jawans die. 

"I was in live contact with the jawans. But information stopped coming in the morning (meaningful pause). I started to become anxious. I was not getting information for hours. It was a very difficult time for me. I wanted to hear the soldiers returning alive. Then information tricked in an hour after sunrise that two-three units had moved back inside the safe zone, though were yet to cross into Indian territory. I said I don't want the information to stop till the last man crosses into India. They returned about two hours after sunrise. 

"After the last soldier reached home, we called a meeting of the CCS, which was briefed by the Army. It was decided to inform Pakistan before the media. The media was informed at 12 noon. For me, this period was one of excitement and anxiety. I was deeply involved. But the way the operation was carried out, keeping in mind every intricate detail, I got to realise that day how strong our Army really is. I bow down to the courage of our soldiers. I feel proud," the Prime Minister revealed. 

On being asked if the surgical strikes have fulfilled their objective, given that cross-border infiltration, terrorism and violence in Kashmir continue unabated, the PM said, "Ek ladai se Pakistan sudhar jayega, yeh sochna bohot badi galti hogi. Pakistan ko sudharne mein abhi aur samay lagega (It would be a big mistake to think that one battle would be enough to teach Pakistan a lesson. It will take time)." 

On September 29, 2016, India announced that it had conducted surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads on the other side of the LoC and inflicted "significant casualties" on Pakistan and the terrorists nurtured by it. This was the first time that an Indian government publicly acknowledged that its soldiers had crossed into enemy territory to launch an assault. It came in the aftermath of an attack earlier that month by four militants in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that left 19 Indian soldiers martyred.