Pahalgam terror attack is direct assault on Indian state, the country is one in fighting: Kharge
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday termed the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed as a direct assault on the Indian state, and said that at this moment the entire nation is one with the government to fight the terrorists.
He urged the government to use all its strength to hunt down the terrorists, and also suggested that an all-party meeting be called to address the challenge of terrorism in a spirit of consensus.
"Very unfortunate incident happened in Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir and the terrorists dastardly killed innocent and unsuspecting tourists yesterday around 2:30 pm. This 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," Kharge said.
Addressing a press conference here, he said, this attack is a direct assault on the unity and integrity of our nation.
"Since the horrific Chittisinghpura massacre in 2000 this is among the most brazen and outrageous attempts by terrorists and separatists. We firmly reiterate that those who murdered unarmed and innocent civilians cannot be human," he said.
Noting that late last evening he spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was in Kashmir and to J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdulla and Congress leaders there, and gathered information, the AICC chief said, "Shah told me that they are going to take action drastically in that area."
The Congress Working Committee will meet at 11 am on April 24 at AICC office in New Delhi to discuss the terror attack, he said.
Stating that this is not a time for partisan politics, Kharge said, "it is a moment for collective resolve to ensure justice for those who lost their lives and for their grieving families by bringing the perpetrators of this terror attack to justice."
"In this moment we all are one with the government and together we have to fight such incidents, terrorists and whosoever fights against us. We will be one to save the country and for the country's unity and integrity," he said.
The entire nation is in shock and a Pakistani terrorist organisation has claimed responsibility, Kharge said, "we must give a fitting response and in this matter we are all one and we will fight. But, there should not be claims without doing or without properly managing and finger-pointing."
"We urge the government to use all its strength to hunt down the terrotist, it has been almost 22 hours now. The government must do everything possible to maintain tourists' confidence in the security arrangement of Jammu and Kashmir," he added.
"They should call an all-party meeting and take some advice. This is not politics, and we don't want politics in this situation," he said, adding that the Congress Party is committed to coordination and cooperation with the government to eliminate terrorism from its roots.
Tourists from various parts of the country were present at Pahalgam, and among the victims were Manjunath and Bharat Bhushan from Karnataka who also lost their lives, Kharge said, "I personally spoke to both the grieving wives of the victims and offered my condolences to them."
The Karnataka government has also deputed Labour Minister Santosh Lad, who is meeting victims in J&K, and nearly 200 tourists from Karnataka. He is also arranging flights for them to return, he said, "I also requested J&K CM Omar Abdullah to make arrangements for every tourist who wants to return. The (union) home minister also promised me that he shall also look after that."
Offering his condolences to the families of the deceased, the leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha pointed out that the summer season is just beginning, and this is the time when tourists start visiting the region.
"Tourism is the biggest source of income for Jammu and Kashmir's economy and its people. People of Kashmir depend only on tourism. Omar Abdulla told me that this year's economy has collapsed," he said, as he also noted that J&K is a union territory and not fully a state, and the responsibility of the Government of India is more.
Pointing out that the Amarnath Yatra is about to begin in a few days and lakhs of tourists take part in it every year, Kharge said, earlier there have been such attacks in this Yatra also. So the Yatris should be protected well and security should be tightened.
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India shouldn't play Pakistan even at ICC events till terrorism ends: Gautam Gambhir
New Delhi, May 6 (PTI): India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday called for a complete halt to cricketing engagements with Pakistan at any forum, including Asia Cup and ICC events, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.
At an ABP event, Gambhir said the national team should not be playing the arch-rivals till cross-border terrorism ends.
India have not played a full series against Pakistan since 2007 due to the tense relations between both countries. They only play each other at multi-team events and even that should be discontinued, said Gambhir.
"My personal answer to this is absolutely no. Till all this (cross-border terrorism) doesn't stop there should not be anything between India and Pakistan," said Gambhir when asked about the future of Indo-Pak cricket in the current environment.
In a terror attack on April 22 in south Kashmir's Pahalgam town, 26 people, mostly tourists, were gunned down.
Responding to the gruesome incident, India announced several measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of the only land border crossing at Attari and downgrading of diplomatic ties in view of cross-border links to the attack.
"Ultimately this is government's call whether we play them or not. I have said this before also, no cricket match or Bollywood or any other interaction is more important than the life of Indian soldiers and Indian citizens," Gambhir said.
"Matches will keep happening, movies will be made, singers will continue to perform but nothing comes close to losing a loved one in your family."
Asked specifically about India playing Pakistan in the Asia Cup this year or the T20 World Cup, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka next year, Gambhir placed the onus on the BCCI and the government.
"This is not up to me, this is for BCCI and more importantly the government to decide whether we should play them or not.
"Whatever decision they make, we should be absolutely fine with it and not politicise it."
In the recent Champions Trophy, India played all their games in Dubai and not host country Pakistan owing to security concerns.
As part of an agreement worked out between the BCCI, the Pakistan Cricket Board and the ICC, all India-Pakistan matches in ICC events will be played in a neutral country till the 2027 cycle.
