The Congress on Friday accused the Narendra Modi government of exploiting soldiers’ valour and sacrifices for electoral gains, arguing that “Surgical Strike Day” would be celebrated on Saturday only to refurbish the BJP’s questionable track record on national security.

Congress communications chief Randeep Surjewala said: “We salute the indomitable courage and bravery of our armed forces. The great wars of 1947, 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1999 are testimony of the heroism of our armed forces.”

“Our forces have successfully conducted multiple surgical strikes over the past two decades, particularly after 2000 — January 21, 2000 (Nadala enclave, across the Neelam river); September 18, 2003 (Baroh sector, Poonch); June 19, 2008 (Bhattal sector, Poonch); August 1 and September 2011 (Sharda sector, across the Neelam river valley in Kel); January 6, 2013 (Sawan Patra checkpost); July 27-28, 2013 (Nazapir sector); August 6, 2013 (Neelam valley); January 14, 2014, September 28-29, 2016,” Surjewala said.

Recalling that the Congress as well as both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had hailed the armed forces for demolishing terror infrastructure across the border in the 2016 “surgical strikes”, Surjewala said: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP have always used the blood and sacrifice of our soldiers as a tool to garner votes.”

The Congress leader was accompanied at the media conference by several army officers and decorated soldiers who supported the party’s stand.

Surjewala asked why the Prime Minister “betrayed” India’s soldiers by denying them the benefits of the One Rank, One Pension plan.

Alleging that national security had been endangered by the Modi government, the Congress spokesperson said: “In the past 52 months in Jammu and Kashmir alone 414 jawans and 259 civilians have lost their lives.”

Sixteen major terror attacks have taken place on our security installations, ceasefire violations have increased 500 per cent and the government for the first time invited the rogue ISI to investigate the Pathankot terror attack.”

The Congress also referred to Chinese activities in Doklam and the Rafale deal.

Surjewala asked: “Why did the PM squander national interest by arbitrarily reducing the number of fighter aircraft required by the Indian Air Force from 126 to 36? Why did it buy the aircraft at a 300 per cent higher price?”