Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday denounced the attacks on Kashmiris in the wake of the Pulwama attack, saying such things should not happen in the country.
“Our fight is for Kashmir, not against Kashmiris,” Modi said at a BJP rally, adding: “We want our sisters and brothers of Kashmir to be rid of terrorism.”
“Kashmiris have suffered the most due to terrorism, and the rest of the country must stand in their support,” Modi said.
“Kashmiri youths are also troubled by terrorists. They are also ready to come with us to fight against them. We need to keep them with us. Kashmiri people take care of Amarnath pilgrims. One year ago, there was firing on Amarnath pilgrims and Kashmiri Muslim people had lined up for donating blood and to protect lives,” he said.
“If we want to win the fight, we should not make mistakes. A terrorist is a terrorist and Kashmiri people are also facing trouble due to terrorism. Previous governments sowed such seeds but this government of India will fulfil the dreams of Kashmiris,” he said.
There have been numerous attacks on Kashmiris living outside Jammu and Kashmir following the Pulwama attack.
Narrating his conversation with panchs and sarpanchs of Kashmir Valley, Modi said he had sought a promise from them that they would not let any school building to be set afire, and not a single school building was torched since.
Modi vowed the Pulwama attack perpetrators would have to pay as he appealed to people to have faith in armed forces, his government and MaaBhavani.
Modi also took a dig at Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying “it is the time he stands true to his words”.
“There is consensus in the entire world against terrorism. We are moving ahead with strength to punish the perpetrators of terrorism,” he said.
“Stern action against those who live in India and push separatism has been taken and will be taken. This is a changed India, this pain will not be tolerated. We will not sit quiet after suffering this pain. We know how to crush terrorism. This is an India of new policies,” he said.
Recalling his conversation with Imran Khan during a congratulatory call after the cricketer-turned-politician became Pakistan’s premier, Modi said, “People know him as a cricketer. I told him there has been enough of fights between India and Pakistan. Pakistan got nothing, every fight we have won. I told him let us fight against poverty and illiteracy. He told me, ‘Modiji, I am the son of Pathan. I speak true and I do true.’ Today, it is the time he stands true to his words. I will see whether he stands true to his words or not.”
The prime minister said that most of the countries and large global organisations are united against the Pulwama attack.
He said that “Indian soldiers sent one main perpetrator of the Pulwama attack to the place he deserved” and asked people to keep faith on soldiers guarding boarders, his government and the blessings of MaaBhavani, the Hindu goddess of power and justice.
He said the government took decisions after Pulwama attack that created ripples in Pakistan.
Calling himself ‘pradhansevak’, Modi said that he is making efforts to ensure that the enemies of humanities are taught a lesson.
“We have given full freedom to our army. The overwhelming sentiment in the social media is of ‘veer ras’ (bravery and heroism), but our fight is against terrorism, against the enemies of humanity,” Modi said.