Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday warned the perpetrators of the Pulwama terror attack and those who harbour terrorist groups that they will pay a very heavy price for the “grave mistake”.

Condemning the terror attack that left 44 CRPF personnel martyred, the PM said that security forces have been given the full freedom to retaliate against the attack.

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“Main aatanki sangathanon ko aur unke sarparaston ko kehna chahta hun ki woh bahut badi galti kar chuke hain. Bahut badi kemaat unko chukani padegi (I tell the terror groups and their backers that they will have to pay a very heavy price for the grave mistake they have done),” he said.

In a warning to Pakistan, PM Modi said the nefarious dreams of our neighbour will never be fulfilled.

“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.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of Vande Bharat Express, the PM underlined how India is walking on the path of progress and cautioned Pakistan saying that “the path they have taken will lead to destruction”.

He also called on all world powers to work together to defeat terrorism.

The PM assured the families of the jawans who lost their lives in the deadliest terror attack on security force personnel in Jammu-Kashmir that “those behind the terror strike will be punished”.

“I assure the nation that the powers behind the attack and the perpetrators will be punished for their act,” Modi added.

“Our soldiers give their lives for two reasons: the safety of the nation and its progress. I promise the martyrs that I will devote every moment of my life to fulfil their dreams,” he said.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India is grieving but it is also angry. He said he sympathises with the anger that the nation is feeling after the attack.”The anger that is seething in the nation after the attack, the people’s blood is boiling, I understand it” he said.

He said that the forces have been given full freedom to retaliate against the attack. He said, “I pay tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in Pulwama Attack. Our security forces have been given full freedom. We have full faith in their bravery.”

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

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

At least 13 jawans were killed on the spot and others succumbed to injuries in hospital.

The injured jawans have been rushed to the 92 Base hospital of the Military and CRPF hospital.

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.

In a major announcement, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said that India has taken the decision to withdraw the ‘most favoured nation’ status granted to Pakistan and initiate steps to isolate the neighbouring country from the international community.

Read More | India withdraws ‘most favoured nation’ status to Pak: Arun Jaitley after Cabinet meet