Govt cancels all public events

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 15

A day after condemning the terror attack in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the Delhi government completely supports any action the Central government and the armed forces would take to deal with the dastardly JeM attack that cut short lives of over 40 security personnel.

During the day the Aam Aadmi Party government cancelled all its public programmes, including inaugurations of various developmental works and festivals, as a mark of respect to 40 CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the highly condemnable terror attack in the J&K valley.

Kejriwal cancelled the inauguration of the new office building of District Magistrate (West) at Shivaji Palace in the Raja Garden area. Two other inaugural programmes — one of replacement of old sewer line at Markaj Road, Nizamuddin, and another of DUSIB toilet block at Motinagar — were also cancelled.

“Our 40 brave CRPF brothers have lost their lives in a brutal and cowardly attack by terrorists. Entire country is in grief and there is tremendous anger among the people on this highly condemnable and cowardly act. We salute the martyrs and we stand firmly with their families,” Kejriwal.

He said, “The government and people of Delhi are fully with the Central government at this hour and we support whatever action the Central government and our armed forces deem fit. We are ready for any cooperation to deal with this dastardly attack.”

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia cancelled two events — inauguration of seven new world class skill centres at Integrated Institute of Technology at Sector-9 in Dwarka and 32nd Garden Festival organised by Delhi Tourism at Garden of Five Senses in Saidulazab.

Other Delhi ministers Satyendar Jain, Kailash Gahlot, Imran Hussain and Rajendra Pal Gautam also cancelled all their public engagements as a mark of respect to the CRPF martyrs. The AAP held a condolence meeting at its Rouse Avenue office where party leaders, including MLAs and MPs, came to pay tribute to the security martyrs.

Congress, BJP condole deaths of jawans

The Delhi unit of the Congress and the BJP paid homage to the jawans who were killed in the Pulwama attack, one of the deadliests in three decades of Jammu and Kashmir militancy.

The attack killed 40 CRPF personnel on Thursday.

Delhi Congress president Sheila Dikshit expressed "deep sorrow" and extended her condolences to the families of slain CRPF personnel in a letter to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.

A condolence meeting of Congress unit also passed a resolution, mourning deaths of the security personnel. "We are anguished to learn about the tragedy in Jammu and Kashmir. We convey our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased," the resolution said.

Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari said, “I am shocked. I can’t understand how should I stop my anger and tears? I pay my tearful homage to the martyrs.

He said, “This cowardice attack is very painful. We have full sympathy with the family members of our brave Jawans.”