PANAJI: Faced with a barrage of criticism from various quarters over his statements on cross-LoC strikes by the Army , Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said he has stopped using the word " strike ".The minister had faced flak from the Opposition for a flurry of remarks over the surgical strikes carried out by the Army in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in September. "I will prefer to address the gathering in local language. I hardly get an opportunity to address in local language. But I promise you I will not touch any controversial issue. I have already stopped using the word strike," Parrikar, who was in his home state of Goa, said during the inauguration of a helicopter engines maintenance unit in Sattari tehsil.

Source: Times of India October 23, 2016 11:57 UTC