India will never forget the martyrdom of the security personnel killed in last year's Pulwama attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said as he paid tribute to the 40 CRPF jawans who lost their lives in the terror attack on February 14 last year. PM Modi described the CRPF personnel as "exceptional individuals" who devoted their lives by serving the country.
Around 40 CRPF personnel were killed when their convoy was targeted by the suicide bomber of Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pulwama district.
Tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after the convoy of 78 buses, in which around 2,500 CRPF personnel were traveling from Jammu to Srinagar, came under attack.
Leaders across the party lines and civil society condemned the attack and called for an appropriate response.
Days after the attack, the Indian Air Force on February 26 carried out multiple aerial strikes at JeM terror camps in Pakistan's Balakot, killing a "large number" of terrorists and destroying their infrastructure.
Here are the messages by leaders on Pulwama attack anniversary:
आज के दिन पुलवामा में आतंकियों के कायरतापूर्ण हमले में हमारे वीर जवान शहीद हुए थे, उन सभी बलिदानी सैनिकों को मेरी भावभीनी श्रद्धांजलि।
- Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) February 14, 2020
आप सभी के बलिदान को हम कभी व्यर्थ नही जाने देंगे, और हमारी पीढियां आपसे देश के लिये सर्वस्व समर्पित करने की प्रेरणा लेती रहेगी।
#पुलवामा हमला में शहीद माँ भारती के वीर सपूतों को शत-शत नमन! आपका बलिदान सदैव देशवासियों को प्रेरित करते रहेगा।#पुलवामा_के_शहीदों_को_नमन #PulwamaAttack pic.twitter.com/nXX0NSubpp
- Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) February 14, 2020
Commemorating 40 of its men martyred in Pulwama terror attack, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) renewed its resolve to end terror.
"तुम्हारे शौर्य के गीत, कर्कश शोर में खोये नहीं।
- 🇮🇳CRPF🇮🇳 (@crpfindia) February 13, 2020
गर्व इतना था कि हम देर तक रोये नहीं।"
WE DID NOT FORGET, WE DID NOT FORGIVE: We salute our brothers who sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation in Pulwama. Indebted, we stand with the families of our valiant martyrs. pic.twitter.com/GfzzLuTl7R
The former chief minister of Maharashtra and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said: "India will always remember" martyrdom of brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
Former cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir asked people to be "brave enough to die the death of a martyr" as he paid tribute on to the 40 soldiers killed in the Pulwama terror attack.
"Let us all be brave enough to die the death of a martyr. The sound of bullets still echoes in our ears, the wounds still hurt like they are fresh. Salute to the supreme sacrifice of our brave hearts. Jai Hind," Mr Gambhir tweeted.
"India will always remember their martyrdom. We should all unite to completely end terrorism from its very roots," JP Nadda said on Twitter.
पुलवामा में आतंकवादी हमले में आज ही के दिन शहीद हुए जवानों को भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजलि।
- Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 14, 2020
"On the first anniversary of the dastardly Pulwama terror attack, I join the nation in paying homage to the sacrifice of our soldiers," said Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
जम्मू कश्मीर के पुलवामा में आतंकी हमले में वीर गति को प्राप्त करने वाले माँ भारती के वीर सपूतों को शत् शत् नमन एवं विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि। pic.twitter.com/qQiQmoYJ9o
- Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) February 14, 2020
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India won't forget sacrifice of Pulwama attack brave hearts.
"Remembering the fallen CRPF personnel who were martyred during the dastardly attack in Pulwama (Jammu and Kashmir) on this day in 2019. India will never forget their sacrifice," Mr Singh tweeted.
He said that the entire nation stands united against terrorism and "everyone is committed to continue fight against this menace".
A grateful nation salutes the supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers who lost their lives in the dastardly attack by terrorists in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir on this day last year. We remain firm in our resolve to defeat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms & manifestations.
- President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 14, 2020
Tributes to the brave martyrs who lost their lives in the gruesome Pulwama attack last year. They were exceptional individuals who devoted their lives to serving and protecting our nation. India will never forget their martyrdom.
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2020
