Terrorists will pay heavy price: PM
We will not forget, we will not forgive. We salute our martyrs of Pulwama attack and stand with the families of our martyr brothers. This heinous attack will be avenged
CRPF statement,
on social media
new delhi — Warning Pakistan that it cannot weaken India by orchestrating attacks such as the one on CRPF jawans in Pulwama, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said those responsible will pay “a very heavy price” and security forces will be given a free hand to deal with terrorists.
Making it clear that India means business, the Cabinet Committee on Security, which met here on Friday morning, decided to withdraw the most favoured nation status to Pakistan.
It would enable India to increase customs duty on goods coming from the neighbouring country.
India granted the MFN status to Pakistan way back in in 1996, but the neighbouring country has not yet reciprocated.
In a hard-hitting speech at the launch of Vande Bharat train 18, Modi said the “blood of the people is boiling” and forces behind the act of terrorism will be definitely be punished. “Security forces have been given complete freedom, the blood of the people is boiling...Our neighbouring country, which has been isolated internationally, thinks such terror attacks can destabilise us, but their plans will not materialise,” Modi said.
On Thursday, an explosives laden truck rammed into a CRPF convoy in Pulwama outside Srinagar, killing 49 soldiers in one of the biggest terror attacks in recent years.
Briefing reporters after the CCS meeting, which is unusual, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said all efforts will be made to ensure that perpetrators of the attack are brought to book.
He said those aiding and abating the perpetrators will have to “pay a heavy price”. Jaitley said the Ministry
of External Affairs will launch an all out effort to isolate Pakistan and all diplomatic efforts will be launched in this regard.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be visiting Srinagar on Friday and would convene an all-party meeting most likely on Saturday to brief political parties on the incident
so that the nation speaks in one voice on the issue.
“My condolences to families of those martyred in Pulwama attack, those behind the terror strike will pay a very heavy price,” Modi said.
“I am thankful to all nations which condemned Pulwama attack and urge them to come together to crush terrorism. The forces behind this act of terrorism and those responsible for it, will be definitely be punished,” he said.
Appealing to his critics to not politicise the tragedy, Modi said the attacks have left the country emotional. “I understand the sentiments of those criticising us but I urge them that it is an emotional time, so stay away from political one-upmanship,” he said. —
We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in the Indian government and media circles that seek to link the attack to the State of Pakistan without investigations
Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
I appeal to the political class — let us rise above politics and show that we are together when it comes to matters of national security. Nothing matters above India!
Amit Shah,
BJP president
The entire opposition stands together with our soldiers and the government. No force, no amount of hatred or anger can affect even one inch of the love and affection that the country is built on
Rahul Gandhi,
Congress president
We shall never compromise with terrorist forces. Whatever the country requires, we will work together as one united nation to deal with this menace of terrorism
Manmohan Singh, former PM
There was no intel failure because we had received inputs. But there was surely some kind of negligence. If the terrorists could bring such a big vehicle without being checked, it had to be because of failure on our part
Satyapal Malik,
J&K Governor