New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah strongly condemned the heinous terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22 and said that people in the entire state are holding protests against the ghastly and barbaric incident of terrorism. He was speaking during a special session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and read out the victims’ names. He said that people in Kashmir are protesting against the terror attack voluntarily and have displayed banners, posters and raised slogans.
He said, “None of us support this. It has hollowed us from within. In 26 years, this is the first time I’ve seen people come out of their homes like this. From Kathua to Kupwara, there is hardly any town or village where people have not come out of their homes to condemn this attack.”
I had no answer: Omar Abdullah
CM Omar Abdullah became emotional while remember the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. He said, “I did not know how to apologise to the families of the deceased. Being the host, it was my duty to send the tourists back safely. I couldn’t do it. I do not have the words to seek an apology.”
The attack which rocked not just Kashmir and India but also the rest of the world claimed the life of Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, a young Navy officer who got married on April 16. His wife Himanshi stood beside the Tricolour-draped coffin of the brave Lieutenant to bid him a final goodbye. CM Abdullah mentioned her during his speech and said, “What should I tell the widow of the Navy officer who had got married just a few days ago? I have no words to console her. Many family members of the victims asked me what was their crime? I had no answer.”
He also remembered Syed Adil Hussain Shah, the pony rider who lost his life while trying to save the tourists from the terrorists. In the horrendous where terrorists asked the victims their religious identity before shooting the Hindus, Syed was the lone Muslim, also the only local person who died. CM Abdullah said, “Adil without bothering about his life, saved many tourists. He laid down his life. Instead of fleeing, he decided to save them.” Also, he added that he is not going to use the Pahalgam attack to demand statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.
