Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the perpetrators of the Uri terror attack would be punished and the Army did not speak but exhibited its valour.
“I pay tributes to our 18 soldiers who lost their lives in the Uri attack. This cowardly act was enough to shake the country. It has not only left the people mourning but has also infuriated them. The loss of our soldiers is a national loss, and therefore I would like to reiterate that the guilty would be punished,” he said in his Mann Ki Baat radio programme.
Mr. Modi said he reposed faith in the Army. “We have faith in our Army. With their courage, they will defeat any attempt at such conspiracies. Our Army doesn’t speak but with their actions they show their valour,” he said.
He said the Kashmiri people started moving on the path of peace and wanted normality to return as they identified the anti-national forces.
“Today, I specifically want to talk to the Kashmiri people. The Kashmiris have started recognising the anti-national elements and are distancing themselves from them to move forward on the path of peace. Parents want school and colleges to open. Famers want their crop to reach markets across the country. Trade has picked up in the past few days,” he said.
Peace, unity and harmony were the ways to resolve problems and all issues could be resolved through dialogue, he said.
Referring to a Class 11 student named Harshvardhan, who was disturbed by the Uri attack, Mr. Modi said: “He was angry and wrote to me saying that he wanted to do something for the country. Despite his anger, he pledged to study three more hours daily and become a good citizen. The constructive thinking of this boy is inspiring for all of us.”
Congratulating Indian medallists at the Rio Paralympics, Mr. Modi said the government was working towards development of para-athletes.
“We are proud of our sportspersons and after their performance in the Paralympics, every citizen has developed an emotional attachment to them.” “The performance of our players at the Paralympics has changed our point of view of Divyangs [physically challenged],” he said.
He would never forget the words of Deepa Malik, who after winning the medal said: “With this medal I have defeated my disability.”
Cleanliness drive
Stressing the cleanliness drive under Swachh Bharat Mission ahead of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary on October 2, Mr. Modi said: “Swachh Bharat Mission was started two years ago this day, and today I can confidently say the people are more cautious about cleanliness.” He appealed to the people to join the drive by devoting two or four hours to it on October 2.
