The Home Ministry has promised all help to Punjab after terrorists struck in Gurdaspur killing eight people and injuring many others.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh convened meetings of the chiefs of all national security agencies and para-military forces to discuss the situation. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and senior Home Ministry officials attended the meetings. The Home Minister will make a statement in both the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday.
Security concerns Political parties and Parliament condemned the terrorist attack in Gurudaspur, but the Opposition raised questions on security under the Narendra Modi Government. Some parties asked the government to furnish information on what it called the increasing number of terrorist activities. “We are one in condemning this terrorist attack. People are still fighting. The Army is there. But the question is the kind of politics we are having in Jammu and Kashmir and in Punjab today. This has resulted in the resurgence of the terrorist groups. Government must come out with facts about what is happening in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Why has there again been a resurgence of terrorism?” asked CPI(M) leader Mohammad Salim.
Later, addressing a press conference, Congress MP in Rajya Sabha Abhishek Manu Singhvi said there has been an increase in the number of ceasefire violations in the last one year. He said there have been more than 800 attacks in the last one year, while it was just 96 during the last year of the UPA Government. Singhvi said the re-emergence of Khalistan was a result of the doublespeak by the BJP and the Akali Dal. “Please don’t ride on two horses on the issue of terrorism,” he added.