Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday termed the attack on CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama as despicable and asserted that the “sacrifices of security personnel will not go in vain”.
He also spoke with Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other top officials in the wake of the attack.
“Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain,” he tweeted.
He said the entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of those personnel killed in the attack. He also wished for the speedy recovery of those injured.
“Spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh Ji and other top officials regarding the situation in the wake of the attack in Pulwama,” he said.
Act of cowardice’: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday termed the militant attack in Pulwama district as an “act of cowardice” and asserted that the security forces will defeat those involved in militant activities.
“Pained beyond words by the terror attack on our soldiers in Pulwama (J&K). It is an act of cowardice. My deepest condolences are with the families of our soldiers who have lost their lives. Our forces will remain firm against such acts of terror and defeat them,” he said in a tweet.
Naidu expresses shock, Jaitley calls attack ‘cowardly’
Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu and Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday condemned the militant attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Expressing shock over the attack, Naidu took to Twitter and wrote: “Shocked by the dastardly terrorist attack in which CRPF personnel were martyred. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured.”
Naidu’s remarks came after CRPF troopers were killed when a van packed with explosives rammed into a CRPF bus on the Srinagar-Jammu highway near Lethpora town, about 30 km from Srinagar. Some 2,547 CRPF personnel were coming in a convoy of 78 vehicles from the transit camp in Jammu and headed to Srinagar.
Condemning the incident, Jaitley said the militants will be taught an “unforgettable lesson” for the heinous act.
“Attack on CRPF in Pulwama, J&K is a cowardice and condemnable act of terrorists. Nation salutes martyred soldiers and we all stand united with families of martyrs. We pray for speedy recovery of the injured. Terrorists will be given unforgettable lesson for their heinous act,” Jaitley tweeted. IANS
Cowardly attack will not go unpunished: Rijiju
Union minister Kiren Rijiju Thursday said the “cowardly” militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir will not go unpunished and it will be avenged in “all way possible”.
Rijiju’s statement came hours after a number of CRPF personnel were killed in Pulwama district when a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the bus they were travelling in.
This is one of the worst militant strikes in the state since the Uri attack in 2016.
“We will definitely give befitting response to this cowardly attack. It will not go unpunished. We will avenge in all way possible,” Rijiju, union minister of state for home, said in a tweet.
Response expected from govt: Bhagwat
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Thursday said a response is expected from the Modi government to the attack on CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama in which a number of CRPF personnel were killed.
Speaking to the media in Nagpur, Bhagwat said, “It is a cowardly act, we strongly condemn it. We expect action in response to this incident.”
“We have tolerated a lot and are still doing so, as seen from today’s incident,” he said. “They will get a reply (to the attack),” Bhagwat said.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar also condemned the attack and extended condolences to their families.
“The cowardly attack on a convoy of CRPF and killing of Jawans in Awantipora, Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir is a condemnable act. My condolences to the families of the martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for India,” Pawar tweeted.
The Shiv Sena, BJP’s ally, alleged that the Union government’s efforts to prevent such attacks were falling short despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance to the country.
“This is too painful and disturbing. We pay our respects. But such attacks should not happen. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said such attacks won’t happen again,” Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said.
The armed forces should be given a free hand to give a befitting reply to Pakistan, she said.
“The language of teaching a lesson to Pakistan was also used (by the BJP-led Union government)….But the efforts are falling short. Intelligence failure is obvious,” Kayande added.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned the “cowardly attack”.
“Deeply pained. Entire Nation stands with the #CRPF family. We salute the supreme sacrifice for the Nation and pray for speedy recovery of the injured ones!” he tweeted.
Congress leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the attack was extremely “disturbing and painful”.
“My humble tribute to martyrs who sacrificed their lives and condolences to bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of our injured Jawans,” he tweeted.
The Maharashtra unit of the Congress, while condemning the attack, accused the Modi government of being “incapable”.
“Strongly condemn the cowardly attack on CRPF convoy in Pulwama….Heartfelt condolences to the families who made supreme sacrifice for our nation,” state Congress president Ashok Chavan tweeted.
“Since 2014, we have lost thousands of soldiers and the incapable Modi government is only to be blamed,” he said.