Citing the 2019 Pulwama attack which killed at least 40 CRPF jawans, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resoundingly called for a strong and developed India as a befitting tribute to the martyrs.

“Remembering our valorous heroes who we lost on this day in Pulwama. We will never forget their supreme sacrifice. Their courage motivates us to build a strong and developed India”, the prime minister tweeted.

Remembering our valorous heroes who we lost on this day in Pulwama. We will never forget their supreme sacrifice. Their courage motivates us to build a strong and developed India.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2023

On this day in 2019, at least 40 CRPF personnel were killed after a suicide bomber drove his car packed with explosives into a security force convoy in Pulwama. Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, led by Masood Azhar was responsible for the attack.

In a befitting response, India carried out airstrikes on Jaba Top in Balakot, destroying Jaish’s terror training camps. Exact terror casualties are not known, but high-resolution imagery had a day earlier revealed the presence of at least 300 religious radicals in the training camp,

PM Modi’s call for building a strong and developed India, follows his remarks at Aero-India 2023 on Monday of hosting the world’s biggest military-industrial complex in the country en route to turning India into a fully developed country in the next 25 years culminating with 100 years of country’s independence in 2047. The PM has often described the next quarter-century as Amrit Kal.

Among other tall national leaders, Home Minister Amit Shah linked the Pulwama carnage anniversary to India supreme resolve to fight terrorism.

“I pay homage to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in the ghastly terror attack in Pulwama on this day in the year 2019. The nation can never forget their sacrifice. Their valour and indomitable courage will always remain an inspiration in the fight against terrorism.”

I pay homage to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in the ghastly terror attack in Pulwama on this day in the year 2019. The nation can never forget their sacrifice. Their valour and indomitable courage will always remain an inspiration in the fight against terrorism.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 14, 2023

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tribute to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the terrorist attack in Pulwama in the year 2019. “This country salutes the courage and sacrifice of these soldiers who got Veergati. The entire nation stands firmly with their families,” he tweeted.

साल 2019 में पुलवामा में हुए आतंकी हमले में अपना बलिदान देने वाले बहादुर जवानों के प्रति मैं अपनी श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करता हूँ। यह देश वीरगति को प्राप्त हुए इन जवानों के साहस और बलिदान को नमन करता है। उनके परिवारों के साथ पूरा देश मज़बूती के साथ खड़ा है।

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) February 14, 2023

Despite being designated as a global terrorist by the United Nations Security Council, the Pakistani deep-state continues to protect Masood Azhar. Last year, India had designated Mohiuddin Aurangzeb Alamgir alias Ammar Alvi as an individual terrorist, charging him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. A senior Jaish leader, Alvi was involved in the Pulwama terror attack.

The NIA charge-sheeted the three brothers–Alvi, Masood Azhar and Abdul Rauf Asghar in August 2020. The agency has also named their nephew Umar Farooq who was sent to J&K to carry out the attack.

Also Read: Bengaluru’s super-patriot Jadhav builds memorial for Pulwama martyrs by collecting soil from their homes