Our fight is for Kashmir, not against Kashmiris: PM Modi
Tonk (Rajasthan): Asserting that the fight is against militants and not Kashmiris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday vowed the Pulwama attack perpetrators would have to pay as he appealed to people to have faith in armed forces.
“Our fight is against terror, the enemies of humanity… Our fight is for Kashmir not against Kashmir, not against Kashmiris.”
“What happened to Kashmiri youths in the last few days…It does not matter whether the incident was small or big, such things should not happen. Kashmiri youths are victims of terror. Every child of Kashmir is with India in our fight against terror,” said PM Modi.
The prime minister said incidents like these “give power to Bharat ke tukde honge gang” and their supporters. “It is the responsibility of every Indian to protect every laal (child) of Kashmir,” he said.
“Kashmiri youths are also troubled by terrorists. They are also ready to come with us to fight against them. We need to keep them with us. Kashmiri people take care of Amarnath pilgrims. One year ago, there was firing on Amarnath pilgrims and Kashmiri Muslim people had lined up for donating blood and to protect lives,” he said.
“If we want to win the fight, we should not make mistakes. A terrorist is a terrorist and Kashmiri people are also facing trouble due to terrorism. Previous governments sowed such seeds but this government of India will fulfil the dreams of Kashmiris,” he said.
The prime minister served another warning to Kashmiri separatist leaders, many of whom were stripped of their security cover early this week. The Union home ministry had ordered to review the security provided by the government to the separatist leaders in the wake of Pulwama attack.
PM Modi said, “Action has been taken against separatists and more action will be taken against such people…We can’t keep silent, we know how to crush terror.”
Modi said peace in the world is not possible if the factory of terrorism continues like this.
“There is consensus in the entire world against terrorism. We are moving ahead with strength to punish the perpetrators of terrorism,” he said, referring to the February 14 attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
“Stern action against those who live in India and push separatism has been taken and will be taken. This is a changed India, this pain will not be tolerated. We will not sit quiet after suffering this pain. We know how to crush terrorism. This is an India of new policies,” he said.
Recalling his conversation with Imran Khan during a congratulatory call after the cricketer-turned-politician became Pakistan’s premier, Modi said, “People know him as a cricketer. I told him there has been enough of fights between India and Pakistan. Pakistan got nothing, every fight we have won. I told him let us fight against poverty and illiteracy. He told me, ‘Modiji, I am the son of Pathan. I speak true and I do true.’ Today, it is the time he stands true to his words. I will see whether he stands true to his words or not.”
The prime minister said that most of the countries and large global organisations are united against the Pulwama attack.
He said that Indian soldiers sent one main perpetrator of the Pulwama attack to the place he deserved and asked people to keep faith on soldiers guarding boarders, his government and the blessings of Maa Bhavani, the Hindu goddess of power and justice.
He said the government took decisions after Pulwama attack that created ripples in Pakistan.
Calling himself ‘pradhan sevak’, Modi said that he is making efforts to ensure that the enemies of humanities are taught a lesson.
“We have given full freedom to our army. The overwhelming sentiment in the social media is of ‘veer ras’ (bravery and heroism), but our fight is against terrorism, against the enemies of humanity. Our fight is for Kashmir, not against Kashmir and not against Kashmiris,” Modi said.
Notably, a day after Pulwama attack, the government decided at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to withdraw the most favoured nation (MFN) status granted to Pakistan in 1996. The government also hiked tariff on goods to be imported from Pakistan by 200 per cent.
The external affairs ministry reached out to more than a dozen countries to corner Pakistan, which denied its hand behind the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir despite Jaish-e-Mohammed, a militant group based out of that country, claimed responsibility for the attack on CRPF jawans.
On Thursday, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution condemning Pulwama terror attack. The UNSC named Jaish-e-Mohammed in its statement. The UNSC resolution was unanimously approved by all members including China, which has been shielding Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar from being declared as global terrorist by the top UN body. (with inputs from PTI)
Press Trust of India
