New Delhi: The Naxal threat and communal violence feature prominently in the report prepared by a former Indian Army general on the Congress’ strategy vis-a-vis national security.

Lt Gen Deepender Singh Hooda (Retd), who oversaw India’s 2016 surgical strikes on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, was chosen by the Congress to head a task force to prepare a national security strategy for the party.

General Hooda met Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi Sunday to hand over the report prepared by the task force.

“Lt General Deepender Singh Hooda (Retd), who oversaw the Uri surgical strikes in 2016, was appointed by Congress president Rahul Gandhi to oversee a task force, to prepare a comprehensive national security strategy report,” said a Congress functionary.

“The task force included a number of senior retired armed forces officers, diplomats and security experts. He has made a comprehensive report,” the functionary added.

The report suggests an in-depth strategy to tackle Naxal violence, the source said, and highlights the potential threat communal violence could have in destabilising India.

‘Overhyped’ surgical strikes

Speaking to ThePrint, Lt Gen Hooda, who retired as the General Officer Commanding of the Indian Army’s Northern Command, had earlier confirmed his selection to the task force.

“Yes, I will be heading the task force to look into national security challenges and how we can respond to them,” he added.

However, Hooda, who retired from the Indian Army after nearly 40 years of service in 2016, clarified that he hadn’t joined the Congress.

Lt Gen Hooda had recently criticised the BJP in veiled terms, saying the surgical strikes were “overhyped” and “politicised”.

The Congress appointed the task force as it mounted an attack on the Narendra Modi government for the alleged lapses that led to the Pulwama terror strike, in which at least 40 CRPF personnel were killed on 14 February.

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