- I once again assure the families of the victims that they will get justice; justice will be served: Modi
- Not only the people of India are angry but the entire world is united with the country to condemn this attack: PM
NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, APR 27
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday issued a stern warning to the terrorists responsible for the attack on innocent tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, assuring that the perpetrators and conspirators of this heinous act will face the harshest response.
He also promised the families of the victims that justice would be served. Addressing the 121st episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat , PM Modi said, “Today, as I talk my heart out with you, there is deep agony in my heart. The April 22 Pahalgam terror attack has left every citizen heartbroken. Every Indian feels deep sympathy for the families of the victims. A person may belong to any state or speak any language, but they feel the pain of those who lost their loved ones in this attack.”
“Terrorists and their patrons want Kashmir to be destroyed again. They do not like peace, tourism flourishing in Jammu and Kashmir, and that is why they conspired to execute such a terror act. But the families of the victims will get justice,” PM Modi said in Hindi in his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio programme Sunday.
The culprits and conspirators, he said, would be punished with harshest response. “The entire world stands with 140 crore Indians in our fight against terrorism. I once again assure the families of the victims that they will get justice; justice will be served. The culprits and conspirators of this attack will be given the harshest response,” he said.
Earlier, Modi had expressed his government’s resolve to punish the terrorists and their handlers after he switched to English mid-speech Thursday at Madhubani, Bihar for the larger global community.
India has already taken a spate of punitive measures against Pakistan, including holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, expelling three defence advisers and revoking the visas of Pakistani nationals in India.
The prime minister acknowledged the “deep agony in his heart” and added the terror attack had affected every Indian, irrespective of states or languages.
“The images of the attack had left every citizen angry and saddened, and that the entire nation shared deep sympathy for the affected families,” he added. “I feel that every Indian’s blood is boiling upon seeing the images of this terrorist attack.”
The main reason behind the attack was desperation and frustration of terrorists and their patrons as peace was returning in Kashmir and tourism was flourishing in Jammu and Kashmir, the PM said.
“This attack in Pahalgam shows the desperation of those who sponsor terrorism, shows their cowardice. At a time when peace was returning to Kashmir, there was a vibrancy in schools and colleges, construction work had gained unprecedented speed, democracy was getting stronger, the number of tourists was increasing at a record pace, people’s income was increasing, new opportunities were being created for the youth—the enemies of the country, the enemies of Jammu and Kashmir did not like this,” he said, without naming Pakistan.
Not only the people of India are angry but the entire world is united with the country to condemn this attack, he asserted.
“…condolences are continuously pouring in from all over the world. Global leaders have called me, written letters and sent messages. Everyone has strongly condemned this heinous terrorist attack. They have expressed their condolences to the families of the deceased,” Modi said.
US President Donald J. Trump, Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and several others have spoken to Modi conveying their condolences after the 22 April attack claimed 26 lives in Kashmir’s Baisaran.
The biggest strength of our country is unity and the entire country is united against the terrorist act, Modi added.
