In a hard-hitting speech, prime minister Narendra Modi said the 'blood of the people is boiling' and forces behind the act of terrorism will be definitely be punished. Warning that Pakistan cannot weaken India by orchestrating attacks such as the one on CRPF jawans in Pulwama, Modi said that those responsible will pay "a very heavy price" and security forces have been given a free hand to deal with terrorists.
"Security forces have been given complete freedom, the blood of the people is boiling...Our neighbouring country, which has been isolated internationally, thinks such terror attacks can destabilise us, but their plans will not materialise," Modi said while flagging off the Vande Bharat Express, India's fastest train from Delhi to Varanasi.
On Thursday, an explosives laden truck rammed into a CRPF convoy in Pulwama outside Srinagar, killing 44 jawans in one of the biggest terror attacks in recent years. "I am thankful to all nations which condemned Pulwama attack and urge them to come together to crush terrorism. The forces behind this act of terrorism and those responsible for it, will be definitely be punished," he said.
Appealing to his critics to not politicise the tragedy, Modi said the attacks have left the country emotional. "I understand the sentiments of those criticising us but I urge them that it is an emotional time, so stay away from political one-upmanship," he said. Earlier, after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said India had withdrawn Pakistan's most favoured nation status and was working on a plan to isolate the country internationally in the wake of the attacks. "The most favoured nation status to Pakistan stands revoked," Jaitley said.
