india

Updated: Jan 13, 2016 19:17 IST

Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday met the families of martyrs Honorary Captain Fateh Singh and Havildar Kulwant Singh who laid down their lives fighting terrorists during the Pathankot attack.

While Fateh belonged to Jhanda Gujjran village in Gurdaspur, Kulwant was resident of nearby Chak Sharif village. Both were Defence Security Corps personnel.

Offering his condolences to the bereaved families, Kejriwal announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each on behalf of the party to the next of kin of the two martyrs.

Kejriwal said it was due to sacrifices of martyrs such as Fateh Singh and Kulwant Singh that people of India feel safe.

“...today we can sleep in our homes with peace as our soldiers protect the frontiers. The martyrs have done a great job to protect the Pathankot airbase. They fought for the country and we are proud of them,” he said.

Kejriwal said it was the duty of all countrymen to take care of martyrs’ families. Kejriwal, whose party is eyeing to wrest power in the 2017 assembly polls in Punjab, is scheduled to address a political conference during Maghi Mela in Muktsar on Thursday.

Kejriwal asserted that on coming to power in Punjab, the AAP would offer all facilities to the martyrs of Punjab on the lines of the Delhi government.

Kejriwal said the Union and Punjab governments should offer suitable jobs to the eligible members of martyrs’ families and make arrangements for imparting education to their sons and daughters.

Later, Kejriwal also visited the family of Ikagar Singh, the taxi driver who was waylaid and killed by terrorists before they entered the Pathankot airbase.

Kejriwal was accompanied by AAP national general secretary and in-charge Punjab party affairs Sanjay Singh and state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur.

‘Need to confront Pak‘

On impending talks with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pathankot attack, Kejriwal said the talks should happen but it was important to confront Islamabad on airbase strike which is believed to be executed by Pak-based militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad. “First, we need to ask them upfront about the terror attack. We need those answers first,” said Kejriwal.