Youth Congress demands inquiry into Pulwama deaths and justice for families of slain soldiers
PANAJI: The Goa Pradesh Youth Congress on Tuesday held a candle light march in the vicinity of the Margao Municipal Council in the centre of the city on Tuesday to commemorate the lives lost to the recent terror attack at Poonch as well as to demand a thorough probe into the lapses that led to the Pulwama terror attack back in 2019, as recently revealed by former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
Former State Congress president Girish Chodankar demanded justice for the families of the slain soldiers as well as a probe, which he said would help boost the morale of the armed forces.
“Our nation’s enemies are attacking our military men in various ways and at various times. At a time like this, the people of this country have to come together who are guarding the borders of our country. But today when the Governor of the same party, who was appointed by the government in J&K makes a statement — he has access to the intelligence reports.
— their own governor… if the opposition, the Congress or others make statements, then it is not given importance because it is the opposition that is saying it. Their own governor was saddened with the intelligence failure,” Chodankar said.
“Their families deserve justice. There needs to be a Supreme Court monitored investigation in order that there are no more jawans who have to sacrifice their lives. We support this demand and there should be a thorough investigation and our jawans whose morale is low after realising the truth of the incident, so that they too get confidence and that going forward we will not be sacrificed needlessly. For their sake this investigation needs to take place. No jawan should lose his life so that someone can do politica about it,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, South Goa District Youth Congress president Mahesh Nadar demanded that Malik’s allegations not be brushed under the carpet but that the families of the slain soldiers be told the truth.
“A group of CRPF soldiers lost their lives when a suicide bomber rammed their vehicle in which they were travelling. Today we are here asking for justice, which we need. But I’m here asking a question to the government — could these lives have been saved. The answer is definitely yes. Because there was an intelligence input given to the government, to the home minister, that there is an attack going to happen. That is the reason why the CRPF soldiers asked for an aircraft. Why weren’t they given the aircraft and why were they denied? Why did they home minister and the defence minister and the government not act on it immediately, because it was a security breach. They should have implemented various strategies to make sure the terror attack does not happen and the soldiers are safe,” Nadar said.
“Instead they asked then governor Satyapal Malik to be mute, like they always do. The government was quiet about it and they used the entire thing to win the 2019 elections. On one hand the army toil in every season of the year trying to safeguard the country so that we can live a peaceful life and we can live peacefully. On the other hand the government is trying to play with the lives of soldiers to win these elections,” he added.
“Instead of there being a probe into this, the CBI sends a notice to Satyapal Malik for speaking and revealing the truth. This is the height of hypocrisy. Now people will question, how far is Satyapal Malik telling the truth and why didn’t he speak then? The point is that a person of that stature and position speaks about the country and governance, there has to be something that has to be given weightage and importance. Based on that they should try and have a probe, let it be transparent. If it is false, it is false, why is the Modi government trying to silence everyone about everything,” he said.
“The youth Congress of Goa demand a probe into this matter. Which will also give justice to soldiers who have lost their lives in the year 2019 in the Pulwama attack,” he said.
Those who spoke on the occasion included state youth Congress president Joel Andrade and district vice president Kenisha Menezes.
While Joel went on to state “I stand in solidarity with families with 40 CRPF soldiers who have lost their lives in the Pulwama attack. What troubles us today is what the then governor of J&K Satyapal Malik said. He said that the Pulwama attack is the result of the incompetence of the Indian government — that is the Home and Defence Ministry. Diving into the details he said that the 40 CRPF personnel requested for planes to move safely which was denied by the Indian government. Not only this, but after the incident took place, the PM and the security advisor Ajit Doval asked him to stay silent on the matter and not speak up,”.
“Further, the Governor quickly recognised that this government did this whole incident for electoral success in the upcoming elections. If this BJP govt can sacrifice the lives of 40 CRPF personnel only for possible electoral success. Only imagine, when and how they can sacrifice you and me,” Joel also said.
“I think it’s time the people of Goa, of this country understand what this government is all about and come out and fight for what they believe is the truth and the right way to go forward,” he added.
“The Government is only making use of these soldiers to win the Lok Sabh elections. When they ask for aircrafts, they were not given but Adani is being provided with the airport and other facilities they need. We demand a probe into this matter,” said Kenisha.
Youth Congress demands inquiry into Pulwama deaths and justice for families of slain soldiers
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