NEW DELHI – The widow of slain CRPF personnel Bablu Santra Thursday urgedIndian PM Modi to hold talks instead of escalating tensions.
She urged the Narendra Modi government to ensure the safe release of IndianAir Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, captured by Pakistan onWednesday, PTI has reported.
Mita Santra, widowed on February 14 in a suicide bomb attack on a CRPFconvoy that claimed 40 lives including that of her husband, said she wasnot worried about criticism on social media over her anti-war stand.
“We should give dialogue a chance instead of war that will lead to loss ofso many more lives,” Santra told PTI while urging the government of Indiato make all efforts to ensure Varthaman’s return.
“I urge our government to engage with that of Pakistan to get back WingCommander Abhinandan Varthaman safely,” she added.
Varthaman was captured following a fierce engagement between air forces ofthe two sides along the Line of Control in which a Pakistani F-16 jet wasdowned.
The IAF also lost a MiG 21 Bison jet being flown by Varthaman.
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Apart from the loss of human lives, war leaves an indelible mark oneconomic and social front affecting the people of countries involved,Santra said.
It is natural that the armed forces will have to go to war and make theultimate sacrifice, but the Indian government must ensure their security,she said.
“I want security of the forces to be ensured. All the forces, be it theArmy or the paramilitary like CRPF or ITBP, are of the government of Indiaand it is the duty of the government to take necessary measures to ensuretheir security,” she said.
Santra said she was not bothered about social media trolls criticising herstand on war, adding that if one person has criticised her, ten othersappreciated her approach.
Following the death of her husband in the car bomb attack on the CRPFconvoy by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pulwama, Santrahad said that war should be avoided as it will snuff out the lives of manymore on both sides of the border, leaving women widowed, mothers withoutsons and children without fathers.
