Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the security forces have been given full freedom to decide the future course of action regarding the terrorist attack in Pulwama. The green signal has been given to the armed forces to decide on the place, time and nature of action.

The terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama on Thursday killed 44 security force personnel.

Addressing a public meeting in Jhansi in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh on the occasion of the foundation laying ceremony of the defence manufacturing corridor, the Prime Minister said the dastardly act of the terrorist organisations and their promoters will be fully avenged. The culprits and conspirators of the Pulwana attack will not go unpunished.

He said Indian security personnel had sacrificed their lives and their sacrifice will not go in vain.

“No one in the country doubts the integrity, valour and bravery of the security personnel,” he said, adding that he wanted to assure the 130 crore countrymen from the land of Veerangana Rani Laxmibai that such forces will have to sorely repent for the dastardly act.

The Prime Minister attacked Pakistan and warned the neighbouring country that it will have to pay a heavy price.

Referring to the September 2016 surgical strikes, the PM said that earlier too a befitting reply had been given to it for its cowardly act.

He said the neighbouring country was roaming the world with a begging bowl in hand but was not getting help easily. He stressed that the neighbouring country should not forget that it was dealing with a new India moving ahead on a new policy. Modi said the country was very disturbed and angry in the wake of the attack.

Modi said that by doing a Pulwama the neighbouring country thinks that it can make India helpless but the 130 crore India and will unitedly give it a befitting reply and will never allow its game plan to succeed. He added all the big nations support India’s stand against terrorist activities.

Laying the foundation stone of the defence manufacturing corridor from Jhansi to Agra, the PM said it will pave the way for the development of the Bundelkhand region.

He said when he had come here last he had assured the people that he would return their love with interest. The corridor was a step in the direction. Many national and international companies had evinced an inclination to set up manufacturing units here, he added.

Modi said the corridor will strengthen the defence needs of the country and generate employment all around as a whole new ecosystem comes up. Citing the example of Kutch in Gujarat which from being a most backward district was now prospering, Modi said that he was hopeful that Bundelkhand would equally prosper.