PM Modi says fire raging in his heart

Even as the nation awaits with bated breath the response of the Indian government to the bloodletting in Pulwama, PM Modi made a fresh assertion – that a ‘‘fire is raging in my bosom’’.

"Jo aag aapke dil mein hai, wahi aag mere dial mein bhi hai," Modi told a public rally in Bihar as he paid homage to two martyred CRPF personnel who hailed from Patna and Bhagalpur districts, respectively

He, however, made no mention of Pakistan or its alleged involvement in the worst terror attack since militancy erupted in J&K in 1989.

After his evocative beginning, the half an hour speech mainly focussed on development. In poll mode, PM Modi laid foundation stones and dedicated to the nation various schemes estimated to cost Rs 33,000 crore. Significantly, he said all these projects were possible because the people had elected ‘‘a strong and stable government which can take quick decisions, work on them and translate them into reality on the ground.’’

Hundreds of people, meanwhile, converged at India Gate and Jantar Mantar in the national Capital to hold candle light marches to express solidarity with the families of the CRPF

jawans killed in the terror attack. As the protests continued for the third day, the police enhanced security in the capital with special deployments in protest areas.