They killed our 41, we should kill their 82, demands Amarinder

Assures protection to Kashmiri students, says they are very much a part of the country

CHANDIGARH : Asserting that the entire country was fed-up with the senseless killing of Indian soldiers every day, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday called for “tough coercive action against Pakistan”, which he suggested could be military, diplomatic or economic, or a combination of all three.

“We should get 82 of them since 41 of our men have been killed,” the chief minister asserted, demanding an “eye for an eye policy” with Pakistan and terrorists backed by it.

Amarinder, a former army captain himself who does not mince words when reacting to Pakistan’s proxy war with India, declared: “If they (Pakbacked terrorists) kill our soldiers, we have to do something.”

Advocating a strong stance in the wake of the Pulwama terror carnage, the chief minister said it was for the Centre to decide

No one is asking anyone to go to war, but these killings of soldiers are not a joke. Something has to be done. I am fed up. The country is fed up. Pakistan can’t hold India to ransom just because they are a nuclear nation. Even we are a nuclear nation.

CAPTAIN AMARINDER SINGH, Punjab chief minister

what form of action should be taken.

“But it is clear that some measures had to be taken urgently. India wants it now,” he told media here.

“No one is asking anyone to go to war, but these killings of soldiers are not a joke. Something has to be done. I am fed up. The country is fed up. Pakistan can’t hold India to ransom just because they are a nuclear nation. Even we are a nuclear nation,” said Singh.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman should decide what action should be taken. “There is time for talk but that is not now. At the moment, there is palpable anger across the country. People want some strong measures by the government against Pakistan,” he said.

Asked to comment on the attacks on Kashmiri students and others in the wake of Pulwama attack, Captain Amarinder said that they are very much a part of the country and Punjab would ensure their full security.

“Everyone in the force is one family and we are identified by our units, not religion,” he said, pointing to the unity in the army as an example for the entire nation to emulate.