Amritsar, Feb 15, 2019: “We express our deep hearted grief with the families of the CRPF Jawans who were martyred following the dastardly and cowardice act of terror in Pulwama in J&K yesterday. A two-minute mourn was also maintained at our meeting with the representatives of various sections of the society here today, says Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Mr Hardeep Puri.
Addressing the press conference here, he said that India had been facing terror from neighboring Pakistan for many years. Pakistan has unleashed a proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir. Despite India’s strong stand against Pakistan to dismantle terror support base on its soil, the neighboring country is yet to take concrete steps to stop terror attacks against India, said adding that, “We strongly condemn the attack on the convoy of the CRPF and express grief with the families of the martyrs”.
“The Modi government had initiated Kartarpur Sahib Corridor to Pakistan and we are committed to have this Corridor which will facilitate the free flow of the pilgrims from both the countries. On one hand Pakistan has responded to the Corridor but on the other hand it is supporting terror groups from its soil against India. How long will this go", quipped Puri. He hit, without taking names, at the political leaders who went to Pakistan and embrace their Army Chief Oamar Javed Bajwa without realizing how these people were engineering terror and killing Indian soldiers on border.
He said, “As per my opinion, Trade can’t be with the Pakistan in the light of prevailing circumstances particularly after terror attack in Pulwama in J&K.
When asked him about his will to contest Parliament elections from Amritsar since visiting city frequently, said, “I don’t intend to contest elections from the Amritsar Parliament seat”.
When asked about his visit in the city said, “I have come here for a pre-planned meeting under `Bharat Ke Man Ki Baat' today organized here by State BJP President Shawet Malik and our National BJP Manifesto Committee Member Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina. The meeting in which representatives from all the sections of the society including academicians, intellectuals, stakeholders, representatives from various trade and business associations, NGOs, party workers participated was aimed to establish direct communication with the public and seek suggestions for `Sankalap Patra' the BJP Manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Puri said this meeting was part of the nationwide exercise to seek and review the suggestions of all segments of the society and forward them to the manifesto committee.