Kejriwal demands retaliation for Uri attack, Rs 1 cr for soldiers' families

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that if the Uri terror attack is not avenged, it will be a "betrayal" of sacrifices of those who gave their lives for the nation.

"The enemy nation killed 18 of our soldiers. Why are we silent? I don't say we should go to war. But there can be a 100 ways to retaliate," Kejriwal said at a function organised by the Delhi government at Talkatora Stadium on the 110th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

Kejriwal also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce financial assistance of Rs 1 crore for families of every soldier who lays down his life at the border, and that this process should start with the families of the soldiers killed during the Uri attack.

He said such incidents remind him of Bhagat Singh who gave his life for the country's freedom.

"Many freedom fighters sacrificed their lives and went through extreme torture for the freedom of the nation. But now, it feels that it was easy to get freedom but it is increasingly becoming difficult to sustain that freedom," he said while referring to Uri and Pathankot terror attacks.

"Enemy nations attack our forces. It is their duty to attack. But are we so weak that we stay silent even after being attacked?

"This silence hurts. If we don't avenge, it will be a betrayal of sacrifices of those who gave their lives for the nation," he said.

Appealing to Modi to announce financial assistance for families of the martyrs, Kejriwal said: "After coming to power, the Delhi Government took a landmark decision to give Rs one crore 'samman rashi' to every soldier, every policemen from Delhi who lays down his life in the line of duty."

"I appeal to the Prime Minister that he should also announce a samman rashi of Rs 1 crore for family of any soldier who sacrifices his life at the border," he said.

Kejriwal said there is no future of that nation which forgets the sacrifices of its martyrs.

"We should make their families feel that their sons gave their lives for the nation, and now, the nation will take care of them," he added.

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Labour Minister Gopal Rai and Water Minister Kapil Mishra were also present at the function.

At the event, Rai announced a website to catalogue lives and sacrifices of all the freedom fighters of the country.

Through the website, anyone from across the country can post about any freedom fighter from their village, town or city, he said.

"We will form a committee to confirm the credentials and soon, each and every freedom fighter will have his story told through this website," Rai said.

--IANS

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