Public anger at Uri attack like that in 1965 war: PM
MANN KI BAAT ‘This anger full of determination, represents national conscience’
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday the anger over the Uri attack was similar to the outrage India felt during the 1965 war with Pakistan and those responsible for the strike would be punished.
The raid on the army camp was an act of cowardice that had shaken up the country, Modi said as he expressed confidence in ability of the army, which lost 18 men in the September 18 strike, to fight terror.
“People’s anger reflects the national conscience. This anger reflects the determination to act, do something for the nation,” the Prime Minister said in his monthly radio address Mann ki Baat.
The statement comes less than 24 hours of the PM sending a stern message to Pakistan during a rally in Kerala, saying India would not forget the Uri attackers.
Pakistan, in turn, accused Modi of irresponsible behaviour and said his remarks were part of a “well thought-out vilification campaign” to distract attention from Kashmir.
India has blamed Pakistanbased Jaish-e-Mohammad for the worst attack against the army in Jammu and Kashmir in a decade though Modi didn’t name the neighbour in his radio address.
“In the 1965 war, when the late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri was leading us, the entire nation shared the same feelings — determination, anger and patriotism,” he said.
Modi urged people to channelise the anger to work for the country’s progress.
“Everyone wanted to do something or the other (in 1965). At that time, Shastri ably tried to relate to their feeling. He gave the slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kisan to inspire people to serve India,” Modi said.
Expressing confidence in the armed forces, he said, “We have full confidence in the Indian Army and are proud of them…the army doesn’t speak. They speak through their bravery.”
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