Pahalgam Attack an Assault on the Soul of India

Omkar Dattatray

The dastardly attack on tourists at the world famous scenic spot is not only an attack on the innocent tourists only, but it was a planned assault on the soul of India. The prime minister Narendra Modi was right when he categorically stated that the Pahalgam attack is not merely an attack on unarmed and innocent tourists but it definitely an assault on the soul of India. The people of India cannot accept the attack on its soul and therefore they are rising against this barbaric terrorist act whose intention and aim is to give a serious blow to the very idea of India and its composite culture that is called Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeb/culture and therefore such terrorist attacks should be fought jointly, in unison and in coordination as such an attack is unacceptable and uncalled for and has no place in our culture and country. Pahalgam attack is thus also an attack on valued Kashmiriyat and Kashmiri’s communal harmony and Hindu –Muslim unity which has been attacked by this sinister and savage carnage .This terrorist attack in the lush green Pahalgam valley has ashamed Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat-humanity as it is an assault on humanity and composite cultural heritage and on the very idea of India. It is an attack on communal harmony, Hindu-Muslim brotherhood, secularism and pluralism and thus has been rightly condemned by one and all including separatist leader of Hurriyat conference Omar Farooq who is also the chief of Awami Action Committee. It was an attack on humanity and thus people of India including of Jammu and Kashmir, the political parties across the spectrum have expressed their readiness to support the governments retaliatory measures to counter terrorism and to bring the perpetrators to task and also to punish the sponsors ,backers and exporters of terrorism to India. It is very unfortunate that the Pahalgam attack is the assault on the doctrine of pluralism and Sarva Panth Sambav which is the cardinal principle of the country called Bharat. We have to guard and protect this principle at every cost and give a befitting reply to the forces of doom and mayhem so that the very foundation of terrorism is not only shaken but its back is broken. Pahalgam attack is the direct attack on Kashmiriyat, the very idea of India, communal harmony and sufi culture and traditions and needs to be dealt with an iron hand and there should be no complacency in punishing the terrorists and the epicenter of terrorism which is Pakistan. PM Modi has resolved to trace, identify and punish terrorists of this crime and its backers Pakistan and chase terrorists everywhere up to the close of earth. PM Modi was naturally very angry and he made it clear that no stone will be left unturned to fight terrorism on Indian soil and to punish its supporters, sponsors and exporters. India has long being a shining example of unity, communal amity, harmony, pluralism, secularism and above all tolerance. India has always assimilated foreigners on its soil and various faiths and religions flourish side by side thanks to the broadmindedness of the majority Hindu community and at present the majority community should be commended and appreciated for its cool and for maintaining communal harmony despite such a grave and big provocation the Pahalgam massacre which has shamed the whole humanity. Putting up a joint face in the wake of deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday –April 24, 2025 chaired an all –party meet in Srinagar and passed a joint resolution terming the terror attack ‘’a direct assault on the values of Kashmirriyat and the idea of India, a symbol of unity, peace and harmony in the region.’’ Abdullah said while the spirit of Kashmir was under attack, the people stood united in grief, resilience and determination to uphold peace and harmony. All joint resolution was adopted in the spirit of collective solidarity and firm resolve, ’’Mr Abdullah said. The participants, the resolution said, stand unwavering in ‘’our commitment to support all efforts in bringing these perpetrators to justice. ’’Modi said in Bihar that India will identify, track, and punish terrorists, their backers and handlers and give them punishment beyond their imagination and thinking. He also roared that India will not spare the backers and masterminds of the terrorists who carried this heinous crime at Pahalgam against humanity and will not spare anyone. In a powerful address in Madubani Bihar Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared India’s resolve to inflict such punishment to terrorists of Pahalgam terrorist attack and on their backers which they have not anticipated in their wildest dreams and such punishment will be beyond their thinking.PM Modi also condemned that Pahalgam terrorist act and said it was not merely an assault on innocent tourists but an attack on the very soul of India. It means that as per Modi the Pahalgam attack was an assault on the foundations of India and its composite culture for which our country is famous across the globe. At any cost we have to maintain, safeguard, protect and further secularism, tolerance and pluralism so that India continues to raise its head high and continues to shine in the world. This gruesome and barbaric terrorist attack at Pahalgam was the attack on the very essence of India and we have rightly resolved to fight terrorism to finish and to dismantle the safe heavens and hideouts in and outside the LOC and we will not spare those abetting, exporting and sponsoring terrorism in our soil. India has resolved to teach the perpetrators of terror a lesson by striking at the very roots of terrorism and for this India can go to any extent and will inflict untold and unthinkable punishment on the terrorists, its backers and masterminds. We should shun making empty noises and instead strike at the very roots of terrorism and so the opportune and right time has approached and Indian government should make use of this opportunity and make a strike on the hideouts and safe heavens of terrorists inside and outside our territory and thus even if we should cross our boarders and destroy the terrorist launch pads in POK and Pakistan. We should shun the path of peace for some time and inflict maximum damage on the terrorist training camps in the neighboring country. This time India should show its mettle and give a befitting reply to the forces of doom which have full backing of Pakistani army and that country’s establishment. Pakistan should be exposed and its terrorists operating in its soil should be destroyed to give the fatal and final blow to terrorism. In no circumstance should India show any leniency but instead jointly destroy the terrorist training camps on Pakistani soil as the Pahalgam terrorist carnage is an assault on the soul and idea of India and as such is unacceptable.

(The writer is freelance columnist and a social activist)