Pahalgam terror attack: ‘Take a strong stand and reclaim PoK’, Revanth Reddy urges PM Modi
The iconic Necklace Road in the heart of Hyderabad turned into a sea of candles as thousands gathered for a peace march organised by the Telangana government in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir that claimed over two dozen lives.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi joined international delegates and citizens in the candlelight rally, held on the sidelines of the Bharat Summit 2025. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, accompanied by cabinet colleagues and senior Congress leaders from the AICC, led the march. The message was loud and clear—India should deal with terrorism with an iron hand.
While addressing the gathering, Revanth Reddy said, “When the country is peaceful and on the path of progress, trespassing into our territory and killing innocent tourists is a gruesome act. If such incidents are to be prevented, India must respond strongly.”
Calling for a united stand that goes beyond politics and party lines, the CM said, “The time has come for all 140 crore Indians to rise above ideologies and stand together. Telangana has hosted this global event with participation from 100 countries. Through this rally, we are conveying our support to the Indian government and expressing solidarity with the victims’ families.”
The Bharat Summit 2025, hosted by Telangana, has brought together over 450 global delegates including ministers, parliamentarians, and progressive political leaders from more than 100 countries. The two-day summit is aimed at fostering dialogue on justice, equity, and cooperation across nations.
Switching to Hindi, Revanth made a passionate appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, invoking the nation’s past responses to aggression and terrorism. “Modi ji, remember how Indira ji responded in 1967 against China and gave a befitting reply. In 1971, Indira Gandhi not only took on Pakistan but split it into two. Atal Bihari Vajpayee called her Durga Mata. You too are a devotee of Durga. This is not the time for compromise. You take a strong stand and reclaim PoK. We are all with you.”
Revanth Reddy choosing to wholeheartedly back Modi at this time without making any controversial statements against the BJP government was seen as a sensitive and sensible move keeping the national interests in mind. But, at the same time, he did not completely move away from Congress line as he repeatedly took former PM Indira Gandhi’s name and conveyed subtly to PM Modi to follow her path.
Meanwhile, following directives from the Centre after the Kashmir attack, Hyderabad police have stepped up security measures. One of the key steps has been identifying Pakistan nationals staying in Telangana. Officials have found nearly 200 Pakistanis currently residing in Hyderabad, some on short-term visas, others on long-term permits. A Pakistani national allegedly overstaying illegally has been detained. Authorities have also issued notices to those nearing the expiry of their stay, asking them to leave the country.
India