Bengaluru (PTI): Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday said that he and his party-- JD(S) -- extend full support to the decisions that will be taken by PM Narendrra Modi and the central government to punish the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack and those behind them.

The JD(S) patriarch said that politics should not be mixed in this matter and everyone should "extend the support of unity" to the decisions taken by the PM and the Centre.

"Regarding the Kashmir incident, the central government will take a decision. For the first time terrorists have indulged in such a violent act on tourists. The government has information in its hands that the terrorist attack was carried out with the support of Pakistan," Gowda said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said the entire country and its 140 crore people have said in one voice that they will support the action that will be taken by the central government under the leadership of PM Modi.

"I as a citizen, as the President of JD(S) which is part of the NDA and a member of Rajya Sabha, along with our Minister in the cabinet H D Kumaraswamy and our party's floor leader and MP Mallesh Babu have said that we extend full support to all decisions that will be taken by the central government on this matter," he said.

India has turned up the heat on Pakistan with what is seen as retaliatory measures after the carnage in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 that left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead.

Responding to a question about whether he received any call from the PM following the incident, Gowda said he had not received any call, and if need be, he would share his opinion in writing.

To a question on discussions about war and his opinion on waging a war against Pakistan, Gowda said he cannot say as of now as to what will happen in the future, and the PM will take a decision depending on the situation, and the entire country has faith in it.

"Modi's leadership is respected by the entire country and around the world. Several countries and its leaders, including US President Donald Trump, have condemned the incident and have extended support for India," he said.

Further stating that politics should not be mixed in the issue, the former PM said everyone should "extend the support of unity" to the decision taken by the prime minister.

"We should show our unity. Such incidents should not happen in the future for any reason. The perpetrators should be found and punished and those behind it should also be punished. In this regard what decision the PM, Defence Minister and Home Minister takes, my party and I are committed to it," he added.

Asked about some Congress leaders trying to mix politics in the issue and his advice to them, Gowda said AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge has already said that his party will stand by the prime minister.

"As a senior leader, what he (Kharge) has said has value. I don't want to say more. I think Congress' cooperation is also there," he added.

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New Delhi (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate has arrested "absconding" former Haryana Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker, official sources said Monday.

The 61-year-old ex-legislator is understood to have been taken into custody from a hotel in Delhi on Sunday. He will be produced before a court in Gurugram on Monday.

Chhoker is a former MLA from the Samalkha assembly seat in Panipat district. He lost the Haryana assembly polls last year after his party gave him the ticket to contest from the same seat again.

Chhoker, his sons Vikas Chhoker (absconding) and Sikandar Chhoker face charges of "cheating" more than 1,500 homebuyers and siphoning over Rs 500 crore funds from them.

Sikandar was arrested by the ED last year and he is currently out on bail.

A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court has issued multiple non-bailable warrants against Dharam Singh Chhoker and Vikas Chhoker. The agency had issued a proclamation against them and directed them to appear before the court on May 19, the ED had said in March.

The money laundering case stems from a Gurugram Police FIR filed against Sai Aaina Farms and associated companies.