JUNE 26- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the terror attack in Kashmir and asserted such “cowardly” acts would not deter efforts of security forces to bring about peace in the state.
Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi arrived in Udhampur, in Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday on their two-day visit to the state.
During the visit, Singh and Gandhi are expected to announce a package for border areas of the state.
The prime minister will also launch a train service between Qazigund in Kashmir and Banihal in Jammu, providing an all-weather surface link to the Valley that often gets cut off from rest of the country in the winter due to heavy snowfall.
Singh extended condolences to the families of the army personnel who laid down their lives in the attack and prayed for early recovery of those injured.
“The Prime Minister condemned the attack in Kashmir,” a statement issued by the PMO said.
“This cowardly attack will not deter the security forces who are engaged in bringing peace and order to the Kashmir Valley,” Singh said.
Terrorists attacked an army convoy in Hyderpora area on the outskirts of Srinagar, killing eight army personnel and injuring 19 others.
Protect ecology while carrying out development projects: Sonia
Against the backdrop of the Uttarakhand disaster, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday stressed that the ecology and biodiversity should be protected while carrying out development projects.
“I believe that the ecology and biodiversity should be protected,” Gandhi said while laying the foundation stone of 850-MW Rattle power project in Jammu and Kashmir.
Gandhi said projects like Rattle should benefit the local population.
She expressed hope that the people whose land has been acquired for the project will get adequate compensation.
