New Delhi:
A brutal terror attack on Indian Army’s headquarter in Uri, Srinagar on Sunday claimed the lives of at least 17 soldiers as four terrorists stormed the base camp in wee hours. The terrorists were shot dead after a long encounter.
Director General Military Operations Lt Gen Ranbir Singh later confirmed that Pakistani markings were found on the objects obtained from the terrorists, hinting on the involvement of the Pak-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed.
India reacted strongly to the deadliest attack on the Army in Jammu and Kashmir in a quarter-century-old insurgency that sparked an outrage with Modi strongly condemning it.
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Here are the 10 main statements that you need to know:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi severely condemned the terrorist attack. The Prime Minister tweeted that those behind the gruesome attack shall not be spared and be given a befitting reply.
"We strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Uri. I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished," he tweeted."Have spoken to HM & RM on the situation. RM will go to J&K himself to take stock of the situation."
President Pranab Mukherjee
President Pranab Mukherjee strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir. President Mukherjee also paid tributes to brave soldiers who made supreme sacrifice, an official statement said.
"India will not be cowed down by such attacks, we will thwart the evil designs of terrorists and their backers," President said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that he is deeply disappointed with Pakistan’s continued and direct support to terrorism and terrorist groups. “Pakistan is a terrorist state and it should be identified and isolated as such, Rajnath Singh said.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar
Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar said that he condemns the cowardly terror attack on Army camp at Uri.
“I salute the brave martyrs for their supreme sacrifice, on the way to Sringar,” Defence Minister tweeted on Sunday afternoon. Since his statement, Parrikar has reached Srinagar and was swiftly briefed by Army Chief about the ground situation in Army base at Uri.
According to DGMO, Defence Minister also visited injured soldiers.
DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh
“All four killed were foreign terrorists and had carried with them items which had Pakistani markings. Initial reports indicate that the slain terrorists belong to Jaish-E-Mohammed tanzeem,” Lt Gen Singh said in a brief statement to the media at South Block in Delhi.
He added that since “some the terrorists had some items with Pakistani markings, I have spoken to Pakistan DGMO and conveyed our serious concern on the same”.
He said that the terrorists had fired incendiary ammunition along with automatic fire of small arms that led to army tents and temporary shelters catching fire.
“There have been a total of 17 Army fatal casualties. Of these, 13-14 casualties have been due to these tents/shelters having caught fire,” he said.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitely
Addressing the media on Sunday evening, Finance Minister Arun Jaitely said, “Unity of our country has been challenged by our neighbouring country.”
“In an international arena, Pak will be isolated if it continues to adopt such measures. It is clear that our neighbour is using terror to create menace in our country, which is also supported by some stone-pelters,” said Jaitley.
Reiterating PM Modi’s statement earlier, Finance Minister said that ones behind these attacks will not be spared and brought to justice. He also informed the media that Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi will visit Jammu and Kashmir on Monday to meet top State officials.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti
The Uri terror strike is aimed at triggering fresh violence in Jammu and Kashmir and creating a “war-like” situation in the region, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said while strongly condemning the attack.
“I strongly condemn the attack which seems to be aimed at triggering fresh violence and creating a war-like situation in the region,” Mehbooba said in a statement in Srinagar.
The Chief Minister said the heightened tension in the wake of the Uri attack is set to further vitiate the atmosphere in and around Jammu and Kashmir amid growing strains in Indo-Pak ties.
“Unfortunately, people in Jammu and Kashmir, who are already mired in an agonising situation, shall have to bear the maximum brunt of the fresh attempts being made to step up violence and trigger fresh bloodshed in the state,” she said.
She said Jammu and Kashmir has always been the worst victim of Indo-Pak hostility and its people have been paying a colossal price for the same for the past over six decades.
Mehbooba said the perpetrators of violence must understand that such methods have yielded nothing in the past nor would they yield anything in future except adding to the miseries of the people.
The Chief Minister while expressing anguish over the attack, paid rich tributes to the slain soldiers.
She extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and also prayed for early recovery of those injured in the attack.
National Conference: Omar Abdullah
Former chief minister Omar Abdullah also condemned the attack. “Terrible news from Uri, 17 soldiers killed & many injured. May their souls rest in peace. Prayers for their families as also for the injured,” Omar wrote on Twitter.
Congress: Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi
“Congress President Sonia Gandhi has expressed shock and deep distress over the martyrdom of Indian soldiers in the dastardly terrorist attack in Uri,” a party statement said.
Terming the “cowardly” terror attack as a “deplorable affront on our national conscience”, Gandhi expressed hope that “the perpetrators of this dastardly attack as also the forces behind them will be severely dealt with and brought to book.”
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also condemned the attack. “Strongly condemn the militant attack on Army base in Uri. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the bravehearts martyred in the attack,” he said in a tweet.
CPIM: Sitaram Yechury
The CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury told reporters that Pakistan must refrain from indulging in cross border terrorism and demanded that the matter “should be taken up seriously.”
In a statement, CPI(M) said Pakistan must stop aiding and abetting the extremist forces as such activities are a big impediment to the peace process in the region. It also charged the government with failing to stop continued infiltration of
militants despite deploying a large number of security personnel across the state.
Pointing out that it has been consistently maintaining that terrorism is not the solution to the Kashmir issue, it said “the CPI(M) would like to reiterate that for a long-standing solution of the Kashmir problem, the political dialogue with all stakeholders as advocated by the all Party delegation should be initiated without any further delay.
