NEW DELHI: Political parties Saturday put up a united face as they underlined India’s determination to fight terrorism following the Pulwama terror attack and expressed their solidarity with security forces in defending the country’s unity and integrity.
An all-party meeting, called by the government and attended by senior leaders of all major parties, passed a resolution condemning the terror attack and the support being given to it from across the border.
Members of the opposition extended support to the government in tackling the challenge. In the meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad asked him to urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a meeting of the presidents of all major national and regional parties, a view supported by Derek O’Brien of the Trinamool Congress and D Raja of the CPI.
The resolution adopted at the nearly two-hour meeting said, “India has displayed both firmness and resilience in dealing with these challenges. The entire nation speaks in one voice to express its determination to fight these challenges.” It added, “Today, we stand united in solidarity with our security forces in fighting terrorism and in defending the unity and integrity of India.” Opposition sources said the draft resolution shared by the government spoke of parties standing with security forces and “efforts of the central and state governments” but the mention of central and state governments was dropped from its final copy at the suggestion of opposition parties.
The resolution adopted at the all-party meeting did not name Pakistan but asserted that India has been facing the menace of the cross-border terrorism which of late, it added, is being actively encouraged by forces from the neighbouring country.
As many as 40 CRPF personnel were killed on Thursday in one of the most lethal attacks targeting the security forces since Independence. Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad has claimed responsibility for the terror strike. (PTI)