Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. V.K. Singh on Wednesday said that Indian troops had not entered Myanmar to act against militants of NSCN-K or any other militant groups.
The former Indian Army chief, was in Guhawati to attend an awareness meeting on MUDRA scheme said,”The statement of the Additional Director General of Military Operation was that there were operations along the India-Myanmar border. Some people in their ‘exuberance’ claimed that the Indian troops had operated inside Myanmar. Those who had gone beyond the briefs must be questioned.”
His statement contradicts the comments made his cabinet colleague and former army officer, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who had confirmed how Indian troops crossed the border to carry out this operation.
Soon after the operation, he had told Indian Express, “It was a much-needed decision that was taken by the Prime Minister. This decision was extremely bold in nature. And it involved our Special Forces crossing the border and going deep into another country.”
A massive operation against the militants launched by the Indian Army along with the India-Myanmar border on 9 June, inflicting heavy causalities to rebel groups.
The operation took place after the NSCN-Khaplang and some other militant outfits on 4 June attacked an army convoy in Manipur’s Chandel district and killed 18 soldiers and injured 11 others.
At the end of the operation, some organisation reported that the Indian Army had crossed over to the other side of international border with Myanmar and attacked the militants of the neighboring country.
Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore had appreciated that,”surgical strike inside Myanmar as a bold step taken by the Centre”.
“In fact, Myanmar is taking our concerns seriously and if everything goes well close relationship between the two countries will open up new opportunities of trade and connectivity,” VK Singh was quoted by IANS.
He termed the ongoing agitation in Assam over the Centre’s decision to regularise the entry of minority communities from Bangladesh and Pakistan as a result of misconception.
Later Singh added,”It is a total misconception. There should be no controversy. The notification issued by the Central government is a pan-India notification and it should not be taken into consideration in respect to one particular state”