New Delhi: Condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Wednesday said that terror has a religion, and questioned the “silence” of Muslim leaders in India. Saying that “days of terrorism of 1990s are trying to come back”, Surendra Jain, VHP’s central joint general secretary, described Tuesday’s terror attack as “Pakistan’s declaration of open war against Bharat”.
At least 26 people were killed and several others injured in what was one of the deadliest terror attacks in the Kashmir Valley. The attack at Baisaran Valley, a popular destination visited by hundreds of tourists on horseback daily, came at a time when US Vice President J.D. Vance is in India on a four-day visit.
“The manner in which the travellers were massacred in Pahalgam of Kashmir Valley by removing their pants, asking for Kalma and checking their IDs, when it was confirmed that they were not Muslims, is highly condemnable. The entire country is shocked and outraged at this inhuman incident,” said Jain in a statement, announcing a nationwide protest on 25 April by VHP and Bajrang Dal.
He added that while some people say that a terrorist does not have any religion, it is “clearly visible by this incident that the terrorist definitely has a Mazahab (religion)”.
“Why are the Muslim leaders of our country silent on this brutal massacre? They can create chaos in the whole country by showing false fear of Waqf Act, but cannot dare to come out on the streets to protest against the killing of these innocent Hindu pilgrims in Kashmir Valley! This situation is not good. It cannot be accepted,” he further said.
Jain said that a few days ago, an MP had said that the travellers and tourists coming to Kashmir or buying land there are committing “cultural encroachment”.
“Time has come to ensure strict action against Islamic Jihadi Pakistan and its Kashmiri sleeper cell, and to completely destroy religious terrorism that dares to raise its head again in the valley,” said the VHP leader. “The government of Bharat should respond to this with equal force and ensure that the days of terrorism do not return again, and no leader or military officer of Pakistan dares to speak such words.”
Jain added, “A few days after that, the army chief of Pakistan had said that taking Kashmir back is the only agenda left for them. Perhaps to fulfil his agenda, he got the jihadi terrorist attack done here! We must understand this ecosystem, too.”
He said that the entire country is angry and that immediate action should be taken, “otherwise, this anger can intensify further”.
While Jain has slammed Muslim leaders for being silent, many, including All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi, have condemned the incident. “Terrorists killed innocent people after asking about their religion in Pahalgam. We strongly condemn this incident. We hope that the government will teach a lesson to these terrorists. We are standing in solidarity with the affected families and pray that those injured get well soon,” Owaisi told media persons.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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