Capt Amarinder insists for limited retaliatory action against Pakistan over Uri attack

CHANDIGARH, September 24, 2016: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder today asserted that India must go for limited retaliatory action against Pakistan for abetting and sponsoring the terror attack on a military base in Uri.

Interacting with reporters after flagging off 13 'campaign vehicles', named 'Punjab Congress Express' here today, Capt Amarinder said, while the nature and type of retaliation should be decided by the army, it must at no cost let the perpetrators of the terror attack go unpunished.

He said, although he was a strong advocate of people to people contact between the two countries as common man on both sides wanted peace and cordial relationship, that does not mean our army should let the wanton killing of our soldiers go unpunished. "It is the question of maintaining the morale of our army and that is non-negotiable", he clarified.

Replying to a question about the possibility of some leaders joining the party, the PCC president said, "the Congress is competent and confident of winning the elections on its own and it was not dependent on the support of outsiders". He said, he welcomed the homecoming of some party leaders, but not those who had ditched the party at a critical time.

On the status of the 'fourth front' leaders, he said, they were themselves not clear about their own stand. "Let them make up their mind and let you ask them about their plans before asking me for our reaction", he said in reply to a question about the possibility of their joining or aligning with the Congress.

Earlier at a glittering function at the Punjab Congress Bhawan, Capt Amarinder flagged off 13 campaign vehicles of the 'Punjab Congress Express', which will touch every nook and corner of the state as part of the 'Congress Liyao, Punjab Bachao Campaign'. This phase of the campaign will last for 37 days.

It was a festive and celebratory mood at the state party headquarters with thousands of party workers joining their leaders in the flagging off ceremony amidst the playing of the campaign song 'chaunda hai Punjab, Captain di Sarkar' and the beating of drums.

Capt Amarinder was accompanied by senior leaders including AICC in charge for Punjab, Ms Asha Kumari, Campaign Committee chairperson Ms Ambika Soni, AICC secretary Harish Chaudhry, CLP leader Charanjit Singh Channi, former Chief Minister Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, PCC senior vice president Laal Singh and others.