DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today congratulated the countrymen, especially our brave armed forces, on inflicting a crushing defeat on terrorists and their sponsors in Pakistan and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi' strong and clear headed approach in dealing with the enemies of peace across the border.

Badal also lauded the Prime Minister for the statesmanlike diplomatic handling of the situation after forcing the Pak army leadership to "run for cover to Washington to beg for a ceasefire".

"After the decisive victory on the battlefield, the Prime Minister acted as statesman in accepting their request for cessation of hostilities. Peace after victory is the most honourable course to follow".

The SAD president condemned politicians who were criticising the ceasefire and indulging in war mongering. "These politicians are those who have never witnessed the damage inflicted by war and watch it on their television screens in their drawing rooms. These persons are the real enemies of the nation".

Asserting that Punjab would have borne the brunt of war in case it had continued for a longer period, Mr Sukhbir Badal said "a large amount of our population lives in the border areas. Highly populous cities are also situated close to the border. In case of a full blown war we would have witnessed unprecedented destruction of both life and property. This however has been thankfully averted by putting a swift end to hostilities following Operation Sindoor".

Badal said the Sikh community had stood like a rock with the country during the crisis. "We have again proved that when the nation is threatened by external aggression the Sikh's are its first line of defence". He said Pakistan had tried its best to sow the seeds of hatred in the hearts and minds of Sikh's by claiming India was targeting Nankana Sahib but the community had rejected such falsities resolutely.

(editor@dailyworld.in)