Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday paid tributes to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. The attack left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead and the CM chose to read out the list of names of the victims of the heinous act. He said that the names of the victims must be remembered.
Whole country affected by this attack: Abdullah
The CM said that be it Gujarat, be it Kerala or all other states from Kashmir in the north to Kerala in the South, all of them have been affected by this terror attack. He expressed his condolences to the victims. This is the worst attack on civilians in 21 years in Baisaran, said Abdullah.
The CM further said, “This House gets the pain of the victims. I do not have words to apologise to the family members of those killed.” He said, as the tourism minister of Jammu and Kashmir, it was my responsibility to send them back safely. I was the one who invited them.
The CM also remembered the Navy officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal who was killed by the terrorists, during his speech. The CM asked, “Did we ask for such acts of terror?” For the first time, I have seen people, right from Kathua to Kupwara coming out and protesting against such attacks.” The people said, “Not in my name” to the terrorists.
We have seen many terror attacks, but this attack has made us hollow, said the CM. Abdullah said that terror can only be checked if people are with us. “We should not do anything, which will distance the people from us”, he added.
He said calls for peace were made from mosques in the Valley. Abdullah also remembered the ponywallah Syed Adil Hussain Shah who gave up his life in protecting the tourists. He also applauded the taxi drivers and hotel owners who did not charge tourists after the attack. “This is our hospitality”, Abdullah said.
