In the wake of the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22nd, which has sparked widespread condemnation across the nation, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly convened for a special session today to express their profound condolences for the victims and to firmly denounce the heinous act.
The solemn session witnessed the presence of all members of the Legislative Assembly, including key figures such as Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma, Independent MLA from Baramulla Sheikh Abdul Rashid, AAP J&K President Mehraj Malik, National Conference leader Mubarak Gul, J&K Minister Javed Dar, Peoples Democratic Party leader Waheed Para, and Awami Ittehad Party leader Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, all of whom arrived at the assembly earlier in the day.
Speaking to the press about the significance of the special session, Leader of the Opposition Sharma stated unequivocally that the primary agenda was to convey their deepest sympathies to the 26 individuals who tragically lost their lives while visiting the region as tourists. He emphasized the nationwide shock and underscored the united stance of the assembly alongside the Union Government in the resolute fight against terrorism and in providing support.
“The agenda of the session is clear. We will express our condolences to those 26 people who came here as tourists to spend the best moments of their lives… something unfortunate that has caused shockwaves among all the Indian people, and in opposition to this attack, we have united here… The session aims to convey the Union Government’s message to combat terrorism to the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir… Today, there will be no political discussion, including discussions that divide the country or those based on religious divides. The special session gives backup and strength to the Union government,” Sharma affirmed.
Regarding the potential tabling of a resolution on the attack during the session, Mr. Sharma indicated that while they were unaware of the specific resolution, they fully supported the Chief Minister’s resolution from the all-party meeting and would welcome a similar resolution in the assembly.
Meanwhile, Awami Ittehad Party leader Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh advocated for dialogue with Pakistan as a crucial step towards resolving the issue and proposed the construction of a memorial to honor the bravery of the pony handler, Adil, who made the ultimate sacrifice while confronting the terrorists.
“We also say that there should be talks (with Pakistan). The solution will come only through talks… unless you talk, people will keep dying… we have not only condemned the attack but we have also protested against it. Not only will it be condemned in the House, but we hope that a memorial should be built in memory of those killed, and we also said that a bravery award should be named after Adil. There should not be collective punishment; it is not the solution to any issue,” Sheikh asserted.
AAP MLA Mehraaj Malik echoed the condemnation of the attack and stressed the need for a decisive response to Pakistan, suggesting that strength should be demonstrated before any potential talks. He cautioned against engaging in a water war over the Indus River, emphasizing the existing military strength and ammunition as the appropriate means to deliver a firm message.
“The whole world is condemning and mourning the attack. It is necessary to discuss the incident here in the assembly today. The country stands united today… First, we need to give an answer to Pakistan, then there will be scope for talks… We will not give them an answer through talks, we have to show them our strength… Indus water cannot be stored for more than 3-4 days without affecting our population. We do not need to fight this water war with them… Why do we have such a large army and such a substantial amount of ammunition? For what? We have to give them an answer once… If we don’t give them an answer now, Pakistan will repeat such an incident after four months,” Malik stated.
This recent attack is considered one of the most devastating in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike, which resulted in the loss of 40 CRPF personnel. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, India has reportedly taken strong measures against Pakistan in response to its continued support of cross-border terrorism.
