PM cuts short Saudi visit, to chair CCS meet today
*Nation angry, blood of security forces boiling: LG
*Omar, Kharge, Sonia, Rahul condemn terror attack
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that those behind the heinous terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam will be brought to justice as he abruptly ended his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and decided to return to New Delhi tonight where he will chair the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting tomorrow to address escalating situation in Kashmir.
Modi was originally scheduled to return to India on Wednesday night.
The PM delayed a scheduled meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah to assess the situation in Kashmir.
On return to New Delhi, the Prime Minister is expected to chair a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to assess the situation in Kashmir.
“They (terrorists) will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger, ” Modi said in a post on X and conveyed his condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the attack.
“I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected,” he said.
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Modi spoke to Home Minister Amit Shah following the attack and asked him to take all suitable steps to deal with the situation.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said security forces have launched operations to neutralise terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam attack, and the perpetrators will have to pay a very heavy price for their heinous act.
“Anti-terror ops launched to neutralise terrorists. Entire nation is angry and blood of our forces is boiling. I want to assure the nation that perpetrators of Pahalgam attack will have to pay a very heavy price for their heinous act. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families,” Sinha said on X.
Condemning the terror attack, Sinha vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam. I assure the people that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished,” the LG said.
Sinha said he has spoken to the Director General of Police and other security officials, and that teams of the Army and police have been rushed to the area to launch search operations.
“Directed the district administration and the health officials to provide immediate medical attention to those admitted at Pahalgam. An injured tourist has been evacuated to GMC Anantnag. I pray for the speedy recovery of all the injured,” he added.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also expressed profound shock and anguish over the horrific terrorist attack on tourists at Pahalgam earlier today.
Describing the assault as an “abomination,” Omar stated that targeting innocent tourists is an act of sheer brutality and inhumanity.
“This attack on our visitors is an abomination. The perpetrators of this attack are animals-inhuman and worthy of contempt. No words of condemnation are enough,” the Chief Minister said in a strongly worded statement.
Also, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Omar over the phone about the tragic incident at the Pahalgam tourist resort.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla too condoled the killing of tourists in Pahalgam in a terror attack, dubbing it as a cowardly act.
“My condolences are with the families of the civilians who lost their lives in this attack. I pray to God to grant peace to the departed souls and speedy recovery to the injured,” he wrote on X.
Describing the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam as a “cowardly act”, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said its perpetrators will face the “harshest consequences”.
“Deeply pained by the brutal terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, J&K. My thoughts are with the families of the victims of this cowardly act, perpetrators of which will face the harshest consequences,” the Union minister posted on X.
Meanwhile, the Congress said the terror attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam is a blot on humanity and the government should take accountability instead of making hollow claims about normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Expressing sorrow over the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi called for “building the broad social consensus against terror that existed in the past”.
The Congress Parliamentary Party chief stressed the need for a deep resolve to defeat these violent forces while asserting that the entire country stood united against terror.
“I am deeply saddened and devastated to learn of the dastardly terror attack on innocent tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region. Resorting to violence is an act of cowardice and needs to be condemned in no uncertain terms,” she said in a statement.
“I understand the pain of families who have lost their loved ones and extend my deepest condolences to them. I also pray for the complete and speedy recovery of those injured,” Gandhi said.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. The entire nation is united in fighting the scourge of cross-border terrorism,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X.
“These dastardly targeted attacks are a blot on humanity. News reports indicate that precious lives have been lost. On behalf of the Congress party, my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured.
“India’s national security is paramount and we urge the GOI to take corrective measures to ensure the same,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said the news of tourists being killed and injured in the cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam is extremely condemnable and heartbreaking.
“I express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said.
“The whole country is united against terrorism. Instead of making hollow claims on the situation being normal in Jammu and Kashmir, the Government should now take accountability and take concrete steps so that such barbaric incidents do not happen in the future and innocent Indians do not lose their lives like this,” Rahul said.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also denounced the attack as a highly condemnable and shameful act.
“Targeting unarmed and innocent civilians is a crime against humanity. This is completely unacceptable. The whole country stands united against terrorism and strongly condemns it,” she said in a post on X in Hindi.
“According to reports, many tourists have been killed in this attack. May God grant peace to the departed souls. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” she said.
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