Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lashed out at Pakistan for trying to create tension in India with terror attacks such as the one that hit Pulwama and said that their nefarious designs will never be fulfilled.

Addressing supporters in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi, the PM said that the security forces have been given the complete freedom to retaliate to Thursday’s terror attack that left 44 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) dead and another 45 seriously injured.

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“Our neighbouring country has forgotten that this is a new India. The barbarity displayed by the terror groups and their masters will not go unpunished,” the PM said amid loud cheers from a mammoth gathering.

“Our neighbour finds it difficult to meet its daily expenses and roams around the world with a begging bowl,” Modi said drawing attention to Pakistan’s weak economy.

“They think that Pulwama like terror attacks will weaken us but their nefarious designs will never be fulfilled,” he added.

He also assured the people of retaliation by India’s armed forces.

“The security forces have been given full freedom to take action and decide when, how and where to do it,” Modi said.

The PM was in Jhansi to launch a series of developmental projects, including a defence corridor from Jhansi to Agra.

He said that the corridor will attract investment and lakhs of jobs to the region.

Earlier today, the PM, at the flag-off ceremony of Vande Bharat Express, warned terror groups and their backers of a “very heavy price” for the “grave mistake” at Pulwama.

Read More | You will pay a heavy price for Pulwama attack: PM Modi tells terror groups, Pakistan

In a warning to Pakistan, PM Modi said Indians will thwart every disastrous design hatched against India in the neighbouring soil.

“If our neighbour thinks that these dastardly acts will create tension in India, then it should forget this dream. It can never do that and it will never happen,” he said.

At least 44 CRPF jawans were killed and nearly 45 seriously injured in a suicide attack when an explosive-laden car rammed into a convoy carrying nearly 2500 soldiers.

Read More: 44 CRPF jawans killed, nearly 45 injured in suicide attack in J-K’s Pulwama; JeM claims responsibility

The terror strike took place near Letapora of Pulwama in South Kashmir.

Pulwama terror attack is the worst for security forces in the history of Jammu-Kashmir. The casualty suffered by the CRPF is the second-highest since the 2010 Dantewada attack by Maoists.

Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) claimed responsibility for the suicide attack and released a video clip of the suicide bomber, a ‘commander’ identified as Adil Ahmad Dar.