Attack Pak even if LS poll gets delayed: Guj minister

AHMEDABAD: A senior Gujarat minister Saturday said a retaliatory strike against Pakistan for the Pulwama attack is a must even if it is at the cost of delaying the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. Speaking at a public gathering in Surat, Gujarat forest, tribal development and tourism minister Ganpatsinh Vasava advocated a tit-for-tat response and said a “condolence meet” should also be arranged in Pakistan before the Lok Sabha polls. Vasava, speaking in Gujarati, said, “Atyare chunav roki do, ane ne Pakistan ne thoki do (put on hold the Lok Sabha polls and attack Pakistan)”. YAVATMAL: Asserting that the sacrifice of the 40 CRPF personnel killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama will not go in vain, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said security forces have been given a free hand to punish the perpetrators of the attack.

At a public function in Pandharkawada in Yavatmal district, where he launched a number of projects, Modi al s o slammed Pakistan saying it has become a synonym for terrorism.

“Sacrifice of Pulwama martyrs will not go in vain. Our security forces have been given a free hand to punish the perpetrators of the attack,” the prime minister said, and warned that even if the terrorist organisations try to hide, they will be sought out and punished for the crime they have committed.

Forty CRPF personnel were killed and five injured in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, when a Jaish-e-mohammed suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district.

“All of us can feel the pain of families of the Pulwama martyrs. We understand your anger,” Modi said.

Referring to Pakistan, the prime minister said, “A nation which is on the verge of bankruptcy has now become the second name for terror.” Modi also sought to know from the people present at the event whether they were happy with his work and the efforts he was taking.

At the event, the prime minister also dwelt on his government’s development works. He recalled his visit to Dabhadi in Yavatmal district on March 20, 2014, for a ‘chai pe charcha’ programme.

“We had discussed the issues facing the country and promised to work to address all of them,” Modi said, and asked those present at the event whether they were happy with the work and the efforts he was making.

“I have worked sincerely to fulfil the assurances,” he said.

Modi said under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi