Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his counterpart in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, and Union Minister VK Singh were among the politicians who decided not to celebrate Holi today as a mark of respect to the CRPF soldiers who were killed in the Pulwama terror attack.
But Mr Kejriwal did tweet Holi wishes.
A very happy holi
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 21, 2019
Ms Banerjee said, "We will not celebrate Holi, but the people will find colourful ways to celebrate the festival." She added, "We do not want to politicise the incident (Pulwama terror attack). But the jawans died despite the government having intelligence inputs about a possible terror strike."
She also conveyed her wishes to the people on Holi.
Heartiest #Holi greetings to all. May your life be filled with colours of joy & happiness. Your enjoyment should not bring sorrow to someone else
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 21, 2019
In memory of slain jawans in #PulwamaAttack & other brave martyrs, I have decided not to participate in Holi festivities this year
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that he will not celebrate Holi this year due to the terror attack in Pulwama. Mr Singh tweeted, " Happy Holi to everyone. May this festival of colours bring happiness in your lives and strengthen the bond of peace & harmony in our society."
आप सभी को होली पर्व की हार्दिक शुभकामनायें! Happy Holi to everyone. May this festival of colours bring happiness in your lives and strengthen the bond of peace & harmony in our society.
— Chowkidar Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 21, 2019
In 2017 too, Mr Singh stayed away from Holi celebrations following a Maoist attack in Sukma that claimed the lives of 12 CRPF soldiers.
Union Minister VK Singh also stayed away from this year's celebrations. He tweeted, saying, "My family and I are not celebrating Holi this year owing to the sadness that engulfs us in the aftermath of the Pulwama Attack and Manohar Parrikar Ji's untimely death. However, I do hope that the year ahead is filled with the colours of joy & success for you & your family."
My family & I are not celebrating Holi this year owing to the sadness that engulfs us in the aftermath of the #PulwamaAttacks & #ManoharParrikar Ji's untimely death
— Chowkidar Vijay Kumar Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) March 21, 2019
However,I do hope that the year ahead is filled with the colours of joy & success for you & your family. #Holi2019
Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri wished everyone on the occasion of Holi and tweeted, "May the colours and positivity of Holi give us yet another reason to stay together as one people & celebrate the unity of India. However, to honour the sacrifice of our Pulwama soliders, Thoughts and prayers with the families of the bravehearts."
May the colours & positivity of Holi give us yet another reason to stay together as one people & celebrate the unity of India.
— Chowkidar Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) March 21, 2019
However, to honour the sacrifice of our Pulwama Martyrs, Lakshmi & I are not celebrating Holi. Thoughts & prayers with the families of the bravehearts. pic.twitter.com/2cyKvErWzO
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will also not hold any official event today to celebrate Holi in solidarity with the families of the soldiers who lost their lives in the February 14 attack, its chief RR Bhatnagar said on Wednesday.
"No official function will be held in the establishments of CRPF in solidarity with the martyr families," he told ANI.
According to officials, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF) and other para-military forces have also decided not to "officially" celebrate the festival.
Over 40 CRPF personnel were killed after a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into their bus, which was part of a convoy of the paramilitary force going to Srinagar from Jammu, on February 14.
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