Arvind Kejriwal meets families of Pathankot martyrs, says 'entire country is proud of them'

Gurdaspur: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday met the families of the security personnel and a taxi driver gunned downed by terrorists in Pathankot and announced a compensation of Rs two lakh each to their next of kin. The AAP leader held a meeting with the families of Havildar Kulwant Singh, Honorary Capt Fateh Singh and taxi driver Ikagar Singh Kulwant and Fateh, who belonged to Chak Sharif village and Jhanda Gujjran village, in Gurdaspur district, laid down their lives fighting terrorists who had attacked the Pathankot Air Base. [caption id=“attachment_2582264” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a file photo. AFP[/caption] Taxi driver Ikagar Singh was killed by terrorists, a day before the militants attacked the Air Force base. Ikagar Singh was native of Bhagwal village in Pathankot. Kejriwal announced a compensation of Rs two lakh each on behalf of the party to the next of kin of three deceased. Extending his condolences to the family members, he said, “It was a big loss…today we can sleep at our homes with peace as our soldiers protect the frontiers. The martyrs have done a great job to protect the prime Pathankot Air Base which was struck by terrorists.” “They fought for the country,” he said, adding the “entire country is proud of them”. Kejriwal, whose party is eyeing to wrest power in the 2017 Assembly polls in Punjab, is scheduled to address a political conference on the occasion of Maghi Mela in Muktsar tomorrow. He will spend Wednesday night in Bathinda district, a party spokesman said. Senior AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Such Singh Chhotepur, Ashutosh and HS Phoolka accompanied Kejriwal during his meeting with the families. AAP is aiming to “repeat the historic win of Delhi polls in Punjab”. The party did well in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in Punjab, winning four of the 13 seats. Kejriwal had earlier visited Punjab in October when the state was hit by protests due to incidents of sacrilege. PTI