Did the Congress lie about conducting 3 Surgical Strikes? This RTI certainly says it did

In a development that raises a number of questions over the Congress party's attempts to politicise and play down the significance of September 2016's Surgical Strike by Indian security forces on terror launch pads in Pakistan, an RTI response, details of which have been exclusively accessed by Republic TV's Jammu bureau chief Tejinder Singh Sodhi, has busted the Rahul Gandhi-led party's claims.

In the aftermath of the strike, the Congress party, via its media-in-charge Randeep Surjewala, had claimed that Surgical Strikes had been carried out under the UPA rule as well.

"We are proud that even in the past our forces have successfully conducted such surgical strikes on numerous occasions, particularly on September 1, 2011, July 28, 2013, and January 14, 2014, giving a befitting reply to the enemy. In its maturity, wisdom and in the interest of national security, the Congress Government avoided making loud claims for the effective response and action of the Indian Army. Not just the Congress government, the previous governments too had conducted surgical strikes", Surjewala had said while addressing a news briefing just a few days after the operation.

Now, however, in response to an RTI inquiry filed by Jammu-based activist Rohit Choudhary, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army has stated that no surgical strikes took place before September 2016.

Here's what the RTI sought to ascertain and the DGMO's on record response:

RTI questions: 

1. How many surgical strikes were carried out from 2004-2014? (Provide me with year wise list with country name)

2. How many surgical strikes on Pakistan were done by Indian Army after September 2014 and how many of them were successful?

3. How many of our brave soldiers have lost their lives in surgical strike?

On record response by DGMO:

a. Indian Army conducted Surgical Strikes along the LC on September 29, 2016

b. No Indian Soldiers lost his life during Surgical Strikes.

c. This section does not hold any data pertaining to Surgical Strikes if carried out before September 29, 2016.

The Surgical Strikes had been carried out by Indian forces on September 29, 2016, eleven days after the terrorist attack at Uri where 19 Jawans had been martyred by Pakistani terrorists. Pakistan's terror launchpads were decimated in the Surgical Strikes and significant casualties were inflicted. Pakistan, however, rejected the notion that there had been any attack or any casualties. 

In April 2018, while addressing a mega interactive event in London, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been asked about the Surgical Strikes, and he took the opportunity to deliver a loud and clear message to Pakistan.

Here's what he said:

"When someone is sitting and running a terrorism industry and sits ready to attack India's innocent citizens... Doesn't have the strength to fight a war but knows how to attack when our back is turned... This is Modi. He knows how to answer them in their own language." ("Yeh Modi hai, usi bhasha mein jawab dena janta hai")

"Our jawaans were attacked as they slept in their tents. Will anyone want that I stay quiet? Should bricks not be replied with stones? That's why we did Surgical Strikes. I am proud of my Army and my Jawans."

"The plan that was formed, it was carried out 100% without a single mistake, and they returned before sunrise."

"And look at our largeheartedness. I said before India finds out, before media reaches, phone Pakistan's Army and tell them that we have done this, these bodies can be found there, if you have time go and retrieve them."

"From 11 am we were trying to call them, they were scared of coming to the phone. I'd called media, our Army officers were there, there was confusion. But I said journalists should wait."

"At noon, they came on the phone. We spoke to them. Told them this has happened. And after that we told the people of India that it was the Indian Army's right to claim justice, and we did so."

"Terrorism exporters should know that India has changed"

WATCH: PM Modi's Unprecedented Warning To Pakistan While Replying To A Question About Surgical Strikes

The day after PM Modi spoke in London, in response, Pakistan continued its charade of denying that the Surgical Strike took place.

It remains to be seen whether the Congress accepts that it lied about conducting surgical strikes.