Pahalgam terror attack: AICC chief Kharge slams strike, demands united response from Centre

AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 28 tourists, and termed it a “cowardly and brutal act”; a “direct assault” on India’s unity and integrity.

“The dastardly killing of innocent, unsuspecting tourists by terrorists in Pahalgam has deeply hurt, shocked, and saddened us all. The Congress Party unequivocally condemns this cowardly act of terror and those responsible for it in the strongest possible terms. This attack is a direct assault on the unity and integrity of our nation,” said Kharge, addressing a press meet in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Kharge urged the Centre to call an all-party meeting at the earliest and also informed that a CWC meeting had been convened on Thursday (April 24) at the AICC office, Delhi, at 11 AM to discuss the issue.

“We expect the government to hold discussions with all political parties to address the challenge of terrorism in a spirit of consensus once the necessary actions have been taken and full information has been obtained. They should call an all-Party meeting and take advice from all,” said Kharge, asserting that the Congress Party was committed towards eliminating terrorism from its roots.

“We have consistently confronted terrorism and separatism, and our top leadership has even sacrificed their lives in this fight,” he added.

Stating that it was no time for “partisan politics”, Kharge said that it was a moment for a “collective resolve” to ensure justice for those who lost their lives and the grieving families, by bringing the perpetrators of this terror attack to justice. He also stated that the Pahalgam civilian attack was among the “most brazen and outrageous” attempts by terrorists and separatist forces since the horrific Chittisinghpura massacre in 2000.

Reiterating that it was a direct attack on the Indian State, Kharge said: 

“Those murder unarmed and innocent civilians cannot be human. The entire nation is in shock. A Pakistani terrorist organisation has claimed responsibility. We must give a befitting response. We will all fight as one.”

Kharge urged the Centre to use all its might to hunt down the terrorists, reminding them that the Amarnath Yatra was about to begin in a few weeks. 

“The government must do everything possible to maintain tourists’ confidence in the security arrangements in Jammu and Kashmir. The Amarnath Yatra is about to begin in a few days, and every year, lakhs of tourists take part in it. Earlier there have been such attacks during the Yatra. So, the Yatris should be given protection and security tightened,” demanded Kharge, who urged the Centre to help the people of Kashmir, who depended solely on tourism, which would take a beating, owing to the fear spread by the attack.

India