NEW DELHI / JAIPUR Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said time for talks with Pakistan is over while BJP chief Amit Shah said that the NDA government would not let the sacrifices of jawans go in vain.
The assertions by the two top BJP leaders came on a day when the party’s estranged ally Shiv Sena said it was time to “attack” Pakistan to seek revenge for the killing of 49 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the prime minister’s assurance of taking the perpetrators to task should reflect in his actions.
The attack was carried out by a lone suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on February 14 when he rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF bus convoy in Pulwama district.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs Gen(retd) VK Singh said India will choose the time and place for retaliation and that it will be “properly planned and well thought of”.
“Any war, war-like or punitive action must be planned for success. It should be a cold act and nothing is to be done in a hurry,” said Singh, a former Army chief.
“Even Osama (Bin Laden) was not killed in a day despite the fact that USA had known he was hidden in Pakistan. Let us wait and watch and support our forces,” Singh told reporters in Shimla.
After holding delegation-level talks with visiting Argentine President Mauricio Macri in Delhi, Modi said any hesitation to take action against militants and those who support it is akin to encouraging the menace.
Without naming Pakistan, he said the world should unite to take concrete action against militancy and those who support it.
“I and President Macri agree with the view that militancy is a serious danger to world’s peace and stability. The cruel attack in Pulwama shows that the time for talks has passed.
“Now, it is required that the world unites against militancy and those who support it. Hesitation to take action against militancy and those who support it is akin to encouraging militancy,” Modi said in a press statement in the presence of Marci .
Asserting that the BJP-led government would not let the sacrifices of jawans go in vain, Shah said no political leader in the world has Modi’s political will to tackle militancy.
Addressing party workers in Jaipur, Shah said the Army would give a fitting reply and only Modi could provide the strong government the country needs.
The BJP government, he added, has started giving militants a befitting reply and has achieved success.
The entire country is today standing rock solid with the families of martyrs. The Modi-led BJP government will not let their sacrifice go in vain. A befitting reply for the martyrdom of jawans will be given by the Army, Shah said.
Shah said the BJP has zero tolerance policy towards militancy and “no leader in the world has political will like Modi to tackle militancy”.
At his news conference, Gen(retd) V K Singh said Pakistan has been “isolated” internationally after the Pulwama attack.
He said more than 40 countries have issued strong statements against Pakistan.
In a veiled attack on Modi, the Shiv Sena said no political “wave” had ever solved the Kashmir issue or stopped the killing of soldiers.
It was not the time to launch a “surgical strike” against political opponents, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party remarked in an editorial in its mouthpiece, “Saamana”.
The Sena said while the government patted itself for “isolating” Pakistan at the international level, the neighbouring country was still carrying out militant attacks on Indian soil.
“The country has seen waves of anger and political triumphs, but it neither solved the Kashmir issue nor stopped the killing of soldiers,” it noted.
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, meanwhile, sought to corner the Modi government over the death of soldiers in the Pulwama attack, asking “why the government is waiting and watching”.
“Till when will the three day period of mourning keep getting extended? Everyday we get news of the brave martyrdom of our jawans while smiling BJP politicians accompany their funeral processions. Why is the govt waiting and watching?,” he said in a tweet.
Mamata Questions Timing Of Attack
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday questioned the timing of the Pulwama attack, asking whether the government wanted to go to war when Lok Sabha elections were round the corner.
She also accused the BJP and RSS of fomenting communal tension in the wake of the terror assault that claimed the lives of 49 CRPF troopers.
“When elections are knocking on the door you are trying to stage a war… a shadow war. Amit Shah and Narendra Modi are delivering political speeches. Even after such a big mishap you do not resign taking responsibility and are instead delivering political speeches,” she told a press conference.
The Trinamool Congress supremo also wanted to know why a large convoy of CRPF personnel was allowed to move on the highway despite the government having intelligence inputs about a possible terror strike.
“The government knew of the matter. Intelligence inputs were there. Then why so many people had to die? why no action was taken?”
Banerjee said she desisted from speaking against the Modi government after the incident but was compelled to talk about it now as “some people are trying to teach us what patriotism is”.
She alleged while the government did nothing after the Pathankot terror assault, it was trying to “create a war-like hysteria” ahead of the elections.
“I have a doubt. How they (Pakistan) have got this encouragement when the elections are round the corner? I dont know….why after Parliament is over. I am in doubt…. why have not we taken any action against Pakistan in the last five years,” she said.
She accused the RSS-VHP-BJP combine of vitiating the atmosphere in the country “by spreading the message of hatred”.
“They are trying to trigger communal riots by taking out late night processions with national flags. They are trying to exploit the tragedy for political dividend.
“It is a planted game of the RSS, VHP and the BJP. We will resist attempts to take political advantage of the situation,” she said.
State BJP president Dilip Ghosh hit back at Banerjee for her comments, saying while the entire country is demanding that Pakistan be taught a befitting lesson, the TMC is opposing tough action against the neighbour.
Referring to Banerjee’s accusation against the RSS and other saffron outfits, Ghosh wondered whether waving the national flag on streets is a crime in West Bengal.
He alleged that West Bengal has become a hub of anti-national activities and the TMC government has not been able to stop them.
Ghosh wanted to know what stopped the TMC government from announcing an ex-gratia for the two slain CRPF troopers from the state.
“When people die from consuming spurious liquor, they are immediately given Rs 2 lakh as compensation. But when jawans are killed, the state doesn’t bother to announce any compensation, while other states do,” he said.
Banerjee sought a high-level inquiry into the Pulwama killings and punishment to those behind the attack.
“When so many people died there must be an investigation to prove who is responsible for it. Tell me what initiatives have been taken,” she said.
The West Bengal chief minister said though she had in mind what action should be taken in the wake of the terror strike she would not speak about it publicly when the entire opposition was together. “If there is a united platform, I can give the suggestions….speak my mind,” she said.
She also asked people not to fall prey to “provocation by communal forces” and directed police to remain alert.
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