Punishment beyond imagination for Terrorists, conspirators: PM Modi, in rare switch to English, sends strong global message

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his initial public reaction to the devastating Pahalgam terror strike, robustly condemned the attack and promised the country that the culprits will be punished “beyond imagination.”

Addressing a public gathering in Madhubani, Bihar, PM Modi said, “The entire country is in shock at the brutality with which innocent civilians were killed in Pahalgam. India stands firmly with the families of the victims.”

Reaffirming the government’s resolve against terrorism, the Prime Minister added, “The conspirators and terrorists behind this heinous act will not be spared. The willpower of 140 crore Indians will break the backbone of the masterminds behind such terror.”

Switching briefly from Hindi to English, PM Modi emphasized, “We will pursue them (Pahalgam attackers) to the end of the earth. India’s spirit will never be broken by terrorism.”

The Prime Minister also called for a two-minute silence during the rally to honor the memory of those who lost their lives in the attack.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who shared the stage with PM Modi, also condemned the attack, stating, “We stand united in the fight against terrorism. The Pahalgam attack is a tragedy for the entire nation.”

Prior to the rally, PM Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to assess the government’s response to the attack, which claimed 26 lives. The meeting followed Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the site and was attended by top security officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Thursday’s event also marked National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD), celebrating 32 years of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment that granted constitutional status to Panchayats as institutions of rural self-governance. PM Modi addressed members of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and gram sabhas across the country and launched development projects worth approximately ₹13,500 crore.

This marked the Prime Minister’s first major public appearance since Tuesday’s devastating attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.