New Delhi, Feb 14: President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday termed the attack on CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama as despicable and asserted that the sacrifices of forces’ personnel will not go in vain.
“Strongly condemn the terrorist attack in Pulwama, J&K. Thoughts and prayers with the families of martyrs and wishing an early recovery to those injured. The entire nation stands united in the fight against the forces of terror and evil,” President tweeted.
Prime Minister also spoke with Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other top officials in the wake of the attack which left 44 CRPF personnel dead.
“Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain,” he tweeted.
He said the entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of those personnel killed in the attack. He also wished for the speedy recovery of those injured.
“Spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh-ji and other top officials regarding the situation in the wake of the attack in Pulwama,” he said.
Prime Minister will also chair a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security Friday morning to discuss response to the Pulwama Fidayeen attack, officials said. Home, Defence and External Affairs ministers, NSA and NSC will attend the meeting.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke to Governor Satya Pal Malik and took stock of the situation in the state after the deadly attack, officials said.
He also cancelled all his political engagements in Bihar Friday and is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir.
He called up the Governor, who apprised him about the prevailing situation in the state. Singh also spoke to Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and Director General of CRPF R R Bhatnagar and gave them necessary instructions, a Home ministry official said.
The ministry is also closely monitoring the situation.
In a tweet, Singh said, “Today’s dastardly attack on CRPF in Pulwama (J&K) is extremely painful and disturbing. I bow to each and every CRPF jawan who has sacrificed his life in service to the nation. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
In view of the attack, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, who reached Bhutan on Thursday on an official trip, is rushing back to Delhi after cutting short his visit.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also called off her first press conference after being inducted in the Congress as a general secretary, expressing grief over the deaths of CRPF personnel in the attack.
The press conference was meant to wrap up her four-day visit to the state, the first after being appointed in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
“This conference was called for political discussions. But when our jawans have been killed in a terror attack in Pulwama, I feel it would not be right if we have political discussions at this time,” she told reporters at the press conference venue.
“I want to tell their families that every single countryman is with them in their hour of grief,” she said.
“They should have faith… we are standing by them,” she added.
A two-minute silence was also observed as a mark of grief.
