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Pulwama attack: We are going to stand with our govt, says Rahul

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh at the Congress press conference | Arvind Jain

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said his party stood in full support of the Narendra Modi government in whatever measures it plans to take to counter terrorism in the wake of the terrorist attack on security forces in Pulwama.

“I want to make it very clear that the aim of terrorism is to divide this country, and we are not going to be divided for one second, no matter how hard people try. This country and the entire opposition is going to stand together. We are going to stand with our jawans and we are going to stand with our government,” Gandhi said at a press conference at the Congress headquarters in Delhi.

Asked about the measures announced by the Modi government, including withdrawing the Most Favoured Nation status given to Pakistan, Gandhi said, “This is a time of mourning, this is a time of sadness, this is a time of respect. We are fully supporting the government of India and our security forces. We are not going to get into any conversation other than the fact that our most beloved people have been killed. Their families need us and we are going to stand with them.”

Gandhi said that there would be no other conversation on the issue besides this from the Congress over the next couple of days.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh echoed the sentiments expressed by Gandhi, saying today was not a day to raise contentious issues.

“Our role today is to convey to our soldiers and their families our heartfelt condolences and that the Congress party stands in full support of our jawans and their families. Our sympathies are with those who have lost their near ones, and we will do all that is necessary to keep this nation united in support of anti-terrorism measures,” Singh said.

“Our country has lost close to 40 armed forces' jawans and our foremost duty is to convey to the families of those who have lost their lives and those who were seriously injured that we are with them in condemning this act of terrorism. We shall never compromise with terrorist forces,” Singh said.