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Pulwama Attack Anniversary: Leaders Across Party Lines Pay Tribute To CRPF martyrs

India will never forget their martyrdom, PM Narendra Modi says, leading tributes of the entire nation.

Jammu: Students pay tribute to the martyred CPPF jawans, who lost their lives in a suicide bomber attack in Pulwama last year, in Jammu, Friday, Feb. 14, 2020. (PTI Photo)
Jammu: Students pay tribute to the martyred CPPF jawans, who lost their lives in a suicide bomber attack in Pulwama last year, in Jammu, Friday, Feb. 14, 2020. (PTI Photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday led the nation in paying tribute to the 40 CRPF personnel killed in the Pulwama terror attack a year ago.

India will never forget their martyrdom, the prime minister said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, union ministers Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani and Hardeep Puri as well as Aam Aadmi Party Convenor Arvind Kejriwal were among those who remembered those killed when a convoy of vehicles carrying security personnel was attacked on Feb. 14 last year.

Modi said the slain security personnel were "exceptional individuals" who devoted their lives to serving and protecting the nation. He also tweeted his tributes to the martyrs.

Remembering those killed in the terror strike, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked who benefited the most from the attack and what was outcome of the inquiry into it.

A year ago, Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Adeel Ahmed Dar, driving an explosive-laden car, blew himself next to a convoy of security vehicles on the Jammu-Srinagar highway at Lethpora in Jammu & Kashmir's Pulwama, killing 40 CRPF troopers.

A memorial will be inaugurated at the Lethpora camp on Friday, a top official said. The names of all the 40 personnel along with their pictures will be part of the memorial along with the CRPF motto ‘Seva and Nishtha' (Service and Loyalty).

CPI-M leader Mohammed Salim demanded justice and asked how 80 kg of RDX had crossed the international border.

"We don't need a memorial to remind us of our incompetence. The only thing we need to know is how 80 kg of RDX got past the international borders to the 'most militarised zone on earth' & exploded in Pulwama. Justice for Pulwama Attack needs to be done," Salim said on Twitter.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India was united in its fight against terrorism.

Union minister Smriti Irani, said she salutes the "brave sons of mother India".

"On the first anniversary of the dastardly Pulwama terror attack, I join the nation in paying homage to the sacrifice of our soldiers," said her colleague Hardeep Puri.

Kejriwal called the personnel martyrs and offered them his "heartfelt homage".

BJP president JP Nadda also hailed the sacrifice of the CRPF personnel. He also tweeted, "India will always remember their martyrdom. We should all unite to completely end terrorism from its very roots."