Bengaluru, Apr 22 (UNI) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale and BJP leader Vijayendra Yediyurappa on Tuesday condemned the terrorist attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, describing it as a "cowardly and heart-wrenching act" aimed at destabilising national unity.

“The heinous act of terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam of Jammu & Kashmir is highly condemnable and heart-wrenching. We pay homage to the deceased and pray for the early recovery of the injured in this attack,” Hosabale said in a statement.

Calling the incident an assault on the unity and integrity of the nation, he appealed to all political parties and associations to rise above their differences and unanimously condemn this "heinous" act.

He also urged the government to ensure all required relief and assistance to the affected families and to take strict action against those responsible.

Echoing similar sentiments, Karnataka BJP Preident Vijayendra Yediyurappa said the death of Manjunath Rao, a tourist from Shivamogga, in the attack was "deeply painful."

"I pray that God will grant the family of the deceased the strength to bear the shock of this terrible incident. We all share the pain of Manjunath Rao’s family," he said.

Vijayendra also linked the attack to the abrogation of Article 370, stating, "The central government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has taken a bold step to uproot terrorism by abrogating Article 370 and integrating Jammu and Kashmir fully into India. The terrorists have become extremely frustrated and have shown the cowardice of killing innocent tourists as a symbol of this."

He added that the central government would send a clear message to the perpetrators that such desperate acts of violence would not be allowed to threaten the stability and security of the region. UNI BDN SSP