Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday met the family members of martyred police officer Baljit Singh, who died during the terrorist attack at Dina Nagar, and paid his last respects to the martyr by laying wreaths on his body.
Badal spent more than half an hour with the family of the martyr and assured them that their demands would be considered sympathetically.
Reiterating state government’s firm commitment to extend all possible help to the bereaved family, who made a supreme sacrifice in defending country’s unity and integrity, Badal said: “Our government would ever be at family’s beck and call and leave no stone unturned to help them in this hour of grief.”
Badal said that the family of this “brave son of Punjab” must feel proud and honoured as he attained martyrdom rather dying an ordinary death. “It’s a huge loss, I understand but instead of grieving his demise, you should feel proud on his martyrdom as he saved thousands of innocent lives in the country by laying down his life for a greater cause,” he added.
Recalling the gallantry traditions of sacrifice in the family, the Chief Minister said that Punjab had always championed the cause of peace, communal harmony and brotherhood due to the sacrifices made by such valiant people.
He said that all countrymen were with the family of this national hero, who had laid down his life at the altar of his motherland to protect its sovereignty and honour.
The Chief Minister assured the grieved family members that the state government was duty bound to help them in this hour of crisis and every step would be taken to extend a helping hand to the family.
Badal, talking to media persons at the house of slain SP (Detective) in Santpura locality, said that he had a telephonic conversation with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday and informed him about the situation in the state after the attack.
Badal lauded the efforts of Punjab police and SWAT team for their bravery in killing the three terrorists. “Army and Para Military forces are meant for some bigger operations…In case the situation warranted their involvement, the state government would not have hesitated to hand over the command of counter insurgency operation to the Army,” he said.
According to Badal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also lauded the role of Punjab police in fighting the militants.
Replying to another question about the foreign visit of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, Badal said that Sukhbir had gone abroad before this incident and he was available to handle the situation.
“I am very much present in the state to tackle any such problem and it is my responsibility to provide security and safety to the people. Being the head of state, it is my prime duty to ensure protection to people and I am performing my duty diligently well,” he said.
Commenting on the remarks of former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh that Badal was playing dirty politics, Badal said that he was in a habit of criticizing the government for nothing.
On the alert sounded by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval over a possible terrorist attack in Punjab, Badal said that he was not aware of any such alert and Punjab DGP could answer about it better.
Meanwhile, the city observed a bandh as a mark of respect to the martyr.