Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday delivered a strong message to perpetrators and sponsors of terrorism, vowing that India will “identify, trace, and punish” those behind the recent deadly attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. His remarks came during an address to a large gathering in Madhubani on the occasion of Panchayati Raj Day, just two days after 26 people—mostly tourists—were killed in a brutal terror strike at Baisaran meadow.
Before beginning his speech, the Prime Minister led the gathering in observing a two-minute silence to honor the victims. “Before I begin my speech, I would like to request all of you to observe a moment of silence to pay tribute to the families we lost in terror attacks on April 22,” he said solemnly.
Condemning the attack in the strongest terms, PM Modi said, “The brutal killing of innocent citizens by terrorists in Pahalgam has deeply saddened the entire nation. Millions of Indians are grieving. The whole country stands with the bereaved families in their time of sorrow.”
Highlighting the diversity of the victims, he added, “Some of the victims spoke Bangla, some spoke Kannada, some Marathi, Odia, Gujarati, and Bihari. From Kargil to Kanyakumari, we are all grieving for them. This was not just an attack on tourists—it was an attack on the soul of India.”
Asserting that justice will be served, the Prime Minister warned, “Those who have carried out this terrorist attack, and those who have supported and planned it, will face a punishment greater than they can imagine. We will not rest until justice is done.”
“From the soil of Bihar, I want to send a message to the entire world—India will identify, trace, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth,” he declared, adding, “India’s spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished.”
The Prime Minister also expressed gratitude to the international community for standing in solidarity with India. “I thank the various countries and nations who have stood with us during these trying times,” he said.
The attack in Pahalgam, carried out on April 22, is one of the deadliest in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike. It has been attributed to The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-based terror group, and has triggered a series of firm diplomatic and security responses from the Indian government, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
(With IANS inputs)
