*Attackers will get befitting response: Dr Jitendra
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh today reacted very strongly to terrorist attack in Uri in which 17 Army soldiers were killed. Modi assured the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished while Rajnath directly blamed Pakistan for the terror attack saying Pakistan has become a terrorist State.
The Prime Minister held high level review of the situation arising after the deadliest terror attack with Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar followed by another high level meeting which Singh held with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, top officials of the Home Ministry including Home Secretary, Rajiv Mehrishi, who is visiting Srinagar tomorrow and other top officials of MHA, para-military forces and Intelligence chiefs.
In a series of tweets after the attack, the Prime Minister said: “I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished”. The Prime Minister’s message was clearly aimed towards Pakistan-sponsored terrorists though he didn’t name the hostile neighbour.
Saying he strongly condemns the cowardly terror attack in Uri, Modi said: “we salute all those martyred in Uri. Their services to the nation will always be remembered. My thoughts are with the bereaved families (of Army jawans)”.
The Prime Minister tweeted that he has spoken to HM & RM (Home Minister and Raksha Mantri) on the situation. RM will go to Jammu and Kashmir himself and take stock of the situation.
Three tweets by the Prime Minister on Uri attack carried a strongly worded message to Pakistan, though he didn’t name the neighbour, that all those responsible for the attack won’t go unpunished.
Sources said the Home Minister and the Defence Minister briefed the Prime Minister about security situation in the Valley in the wake of about two and half month long unrest and now the Uri terror attack in which 17 Army soldiers were killed.
Rajnath Singh also took to twitter after the attack and high level security review of the situation.
In his seven tweets on Uri attack, Rajnath directly named Pakistan describing it as a terrorist State saying it (Pakistan) should be identified and isolated as such.
“There are definite and conclusive indications that the perpetrators of Uri attack were highly trained, heavily armed and specially equipped. Pakistan is a terrorist State and it should be identified as such,” he wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
Declaring that those behind the terror incident would be brought to justice, Rajnath announced that he has postponed his visits to Russia and United States of America (USA) in view of the situation of Jammu and Kashmir in mind and terror attack in Uri.
Rajnath was scheduled to proceed to week-long tour of Russia and USA this morning but as the news of terror attack came, he postponed the visits to both the countries.
The Home Minister, who spoke to Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti over telephone, discussed the situation with them regarding terror attack in Uri.
“They (the Governor and the Chief Minister) have apprised me of the security situation in the State,” he said, adding he has given instructions to the Home Secretary (Rajiv Mehrishi) and other senior officers in the MHA to closely monitor the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Union Home Secretary, as already reported by the Excelsior today, is visiting Srinagar tomorrow along with other senior officers of the Home Ministry for high-level review of security situation and nearly two and half month long unrest in the Valley after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
“Deeply distressed at the terror incident in Uri and the loss of 17 brave soldiers martyred (in the attack). I pray for speedy recovery of the injured. My heartfelt condolences to the families of martyred soldiers. Those behind the terror incident would be brought to justice,” Rajnath said.
Earlier, Rajnath held high level review of security situation at his official residence in the Union capital this morning in which steps required to curb Uri and Poonch like terror attacks were reviewed and certain “important and significant” decisions were taken to tackle the attacks and Kashmir unrest.
The meeting was attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar, MHA officials, Incharge Jammu and Kashmir desk, top officials of Ministries of Home and Defence and Army, Intelligence and paramilitary forces.
The meeting decided to take series of steps to prevent infiltration on Line of Control and International Border and strengthening security of Security Grids across the State to prevent such attacks in future.
Meanwhile, blaming Pakistan for the terror attack in Uri, Union Minister in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh today said those trying to test India’s security and confidence would be given a befitting response.
“We have known long enough who are behind sponsoring terrorism against India particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. I think time has come to call their bluff and give them a befitting reply,” he said in a statement released to the Excelsior.
Dr Jitendra, who is also a Lok Sabha member from Udhampur-Doda constituency, said an effective strategy has to be devised to deter such attacks in future.
“I think that simply calling it an act of cowardice does not suffice, because not responding would also be cowardice,” Dr Singh said.
The Union Minister said “those who tend to put India’s security or India’s confidence to test would be given a befitting response.”
“I don’t have to spell out that in public. I am sure the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs would come out with an effective strategy,” he said.
“It is a disturbing moment and a moment of introspection. I shudder to think how can the nation ever and ever repay for such supreme and ultimate sacrifice of our jawans,” he said.
Dr Singh said those behind the “despicable” terror attack have to be punished.
“I feel shattered over the loss of 17 precious lives of our brave soldiers. There is no other option but to punish those behind this dastardly act,” he said.
Singh asked Opposition parties to forget their political differences and respond to the “call of the nation”.
Criticizing the human rights activists “who try to ignore the killing of soldiers by terrorists”, the Minister said an Indian soldier is as much entitled to human rights as anybody else.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
