On the second anniversary of the Pulwama terror strike on Sunday, dignitaries, film actors and political leaders led by the President and the Prime Minister paid rich tributes to the 40 CRPF personnel killed in the attack that days after had also prompted Indian Air Force to go across borders on a “punishing mission”, hitting terror terror camps at Balakot in Pakistan.
Remembering the soldiers who died in Pulwama terror attack, President Ram Nath Kovind said the nation is committed to eliminating terrorism. “Nation salutes the sacrifice of our brave soldiers”, he said.
Modi described CRPF ‘jawans’ as “exceptional individuals who devoted their lives to the country”.
On February 14, 2019, 40 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed after a suicide bomber rammed an IED-laden truck into a CRPF convoy. Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammad-executed attack took place when a convoy of 78 buses with 2,500 CRPF personnel was heading to Srinagar from Jammu.
“No Indian can forget this day. Two years ago, the Pulwama terror attack occurred. We pay homage to all the martyrs. We are proud of our security forces and their bravery will continue to inspire future generations,” he said during a public event in Chennai.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi also expressed his grief by tweeting in Hindi saying “tribute to the brave soldiers, who died in the Pulwama terror attack. A tribute to their families as the country owes you.”
Actors including Akshay Kumar, Varun Dhawan and Rajkummar Rao paid tributes and said the country will forever remain indebted to the brave hearts. Kumar took to Twitter and shared a picture of the martyrs. “Remembering our brave hearts of #PulwamaAttack, we will always remain indebted for your supreme sacrifice,” the 53-year-old actor tweeted.
Dhawan shared the same image on Instagram and captioned “Jai Hind”. Actor Kartik Aaryan prayed for the families of those who were killed in the terrorist attack.
“On this day, two years back, 40 soldiers sacrificed their lives for our nation in Pulwama attack. Prayers for the brave souls and their families. We’ll always be in debt of yours,” the actor tweeted.
Rest In Power Bravehearts of Pulwama!”, actor Suniel Shetty wrote.
While paying homage to the slain soldiers, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said he stands in solidarity with the jawans’ families.
“I join the nation in paying my humble tributes to the CRPF personnel who were martyred in the dastardly Pulwama terror attack. The grateful nation will always remember their patriotism & supreme sacrifice,” the Vice President Secretariat tweeted quoting Naidu.
Union home minister Amit Shah said that the slain soldiers’ sacrifice will never be forgotten. “I bow down to the brave martyrs who lost their lives in the gruesome Pulwama attack on this day in 2019. India will never forget their exceptional courage and supreme sacrifice,” Shah tweeted.
“Entire nation stands united against terrorists “, said the Defence Minister.
BJP president JP Nadda also remembered the sacrifice of CRPF personnel.
“India will always remember their martyrdom. We should all unite to completely end terrorism from its very roots,” Nadda said on Twitter.
Days after the attack, the Indian Air Force on February 26 carried out multiple aerial strikes at JeM terror camps in Pakistan’s Balakot, killing a “large number” of terrorists and destroying their infrastructure.
On its part, the CRPF tweeted “‘We did not forget, we did not forgive”. The CRPF renewed its resolve to end terror saying they have not forgiven or forgotten the gruesome attack.
“Be brave enough to die as martyr”’, said BJP MP and former test player Gautam Gambhir and asked people to be “brave enough to die the death of a martyr” as he paid his tributes. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal offered “heartfelt homage” to martyrs, while Union Minister Smriti Irani said: “Salute to brave sons of mother India”.