Centre is acting tough on terrorism: Bandaru Dattatreya

HYDERABAD: Terming the terror attack at an Air Force base in Punjab as an "act of cowards", Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya today said that the Centre is taking tough measures to check terrorism and has kept all key defence installations on high alert.

" Narendra Modi's government is committed to safeguarding the unity and integrity of this great nation. The Government of India is acting tough on terrorism and taking stock of the situation on the ground and has kept all the key defence and civil installations on high alert and state governments are also alerted in this regard due to which the terrorists are given a befitting reply to the attack," he said.

Dattatreya, Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Labour said the terror attack is an act of cowards.

"The forces have killed the terrorists and the action is still in progress as per latest reports. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the martyred Indian commandos in the action," he said.

The terrorist strike needs to be condemned by one and all irrespective of political affiliations, he said.

"...(It) should not be viewed from the political angle," he added.

In a pre-dawn attack, a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to belong to Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, struck at an Air Force base at Pathankot in Punjab, leading to a fierce gunbattle in which three security personnel were killed along with four attackers.