Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said America took 20 years in Afghanistan but India defeated Pakistan in 13 days only in 1971 Bangladesh liberation war as the country was united and was standing as one at that time.
Generally, a war is fought for 6 months, or 1-2 years, he said at Congress’ Vijay Samman rally in Dehradun.
Remembering Indira Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi said today a function was held in Delhi on Bangladesh war but there was no mention of Indira Gandhi who took 32 bullets for this country in the function. Even her name was not there in the invitation because this government is afraid of the truth, he said.
Reacting to Gandhi’s statement, the Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt said India was united before and India is united today as well. India made history in 1971 and then again in Kargil, he said.
Ahead of next year’s assembly polls in five states, the soldiers are becoming the prime focus of both the ruling BJP and the Congress.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone of a war memorial in Dehradun and the entry gate of it was named after CDS General General Rawat.
The Congress’ Vijay Samman Rally was organised to focus on soldiers’ issues on December 16 when Bangladesh celebrates 50 years of independence from Pakistan. In 1971, Indira Gandhi gave the go-ahead to Indian forces who ultimately crushed Pakistan.