Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday strongly criticised the recent attack on two Kashmiri dry-fruit sellers in Lucknow and warned that such acts of hooliganism will not be tolerated.
Addressing a public rally in Kanpur, the Prime Minister also lauded the Uttar Pradesh's Yogi Adityanath government for acting promptly against the attackers and urged all state governments to act against such incidents.
"Some crazy people in Lucknow attacked our Kashmiri brothers. The UP government has taken prompt action on them.
"Peace, unity and harmony in the nation will give me the intrinsic strength to take decisive action against terror," he said while seeking people's support in this regard.
The two Kashmiri vendors of dry fruits were thrashed by four rightwing Hindu activists here on Wednesday triggering an all-round outrage. They, however, resumed their trade on Friday at the very same place.
#NewsAlert -- PM @narendramodi condemns the attack on Kashmiri traders | @maryashakil with more details #IndiaWithKashmiris pic.twitter.com/ijBGM5vVPt
— News18 (@CNNnews18) March 8, 2019
Attacking the opposition for making "politically motivated" statements, the Prime Minister said that they are "demotivating the defence forces".
Modi said he is making this "serious charge" against some political opponents who, blinded by their dislike for Modi, are harming the interests of the nation.
"For political mileage and benefits, some political parties are making statements questioning the air strikes and the bravery and valour of our Army personnel, deliberately," he said.
As people cheered him, Modi said at a time when the country is "fighting a decisive battle against terrorism to uproot it forever", there are some who are making statements in a language that become a "weapon in Pakistan's armoury" to speak against India on the global stage.
He also talked about the Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF troopers were killed.
The Prime Minister asked the crowd to tell him whether they are satisfied with his reaction to the dastardly attack. When people responded with a yes, he said: "While your chest is getting pumped up and feeling proud of the air strikes, opposition parties are using the issue to settle political scores with me. Will the country ever forgive them?"
Calling it a matter of disgrace, Modi went on to say that the "insiders in India" are doing things that are music to Pakistan's ears. "They are doubting the bravery of the armed forces, they are levelling dirty allegations against the government... Who will it help at the end of the day?" he said, alleging that the "enemies of the nation are doing this deliberately".
There is immense pressure on Pakistan for patronising and protecting terror groups, the PM said, adding that the masterminds of the terror outfits smile when these allegations are made against him by "our very own" political parties.
SHOCKING: Some goons in saffron kurtas throttle, assault a Kashmiri dry fruit seller in Lucknow. Passersby come to rescue of the Kashmiri. Case yet to be registered.
— Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) March 6, 2019
Hope @Uppolice @Igrangelucknow @lkopolice register an FIR and jab these goondas at the earliest. pic.twitter.com/zXjI3Anh2n
"Utterances, statements of our very own are giving ammunition to Pakistan, which has been caught red-handed in terrorism. Terrorists know it is end game for them and hence they are rattled. The grenade attack on bus in Jammu on Thursday was such an attempt," he pointed out.
Assuring the people that the Union government is closing in on them and would uproot them for ever, he however stressed on the need for unity, peace and harmony in the country to enable his government to take decisive action against terror.
He also castigated the opposition for trying to stick up an alliance.
"They are not bothered about the nation, poverty, terrorism, middle class, industry, army, Ganga...nothing," he said pointing out how the "mahamilawat alliance" is between people, "some of whom are in jail, some are soon going to jail and the others who are on bail".