Bengaluru, Apr 23 (UNI) Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday called for national unity and a collective resolve to seek justice for the victims of the recent terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir. He emphasised that this is not the time for partisan politics but for standing together as a nation against terrorism.

In his remarks, Kharge condemned the attack in the strongest terms, labelling it a "cowardly" and "dastardly" act that targeted innocent tourists. "This is not a time for partisan politics. It is a moment for collective resolve to ensure justice for those who lost their lives and for their grieving families," he said. His statement reflects the need for unity and cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

The attack, which occurred around 2:30 PM yesterday, claimed the lives of several tourists, including two from Karnataka, Manjunath and Bharat Bhushan. Kharge personally reached out to their grieving families, offering his condolences. "I spoke to both the grieving wives of the victims and offered my condolences to them," he said.

Highlighting the gravity of the attack, Kharge compared it to the infamous Chittisinghpura massacre of 2000, calling it one of the most brazen acts by terrorists in recent times. "This is among the most brazen and outrageous attempts by terrorists and separatist forces," Kharge remarked. He further stated, "Those who murder unarmed and innocent civilians cannot be human."

The Chittisinghpura massacre took place on March 20, 2000, at Chittisinghpura in Jammu and Kashmir, when 35 Sikh men were killed by armed terrorists. The victims were deliberately targeted and executed just days before US President Bill Clinton's visit, which brought international attention to the incident. Fast forward to today, US Vice President JD Vance is in India amid the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam attacks.

Kharge informed the media that he had spoken with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and other senior leaders to coordinate the response. Additionally, Karnataka's Labour Minister, Santosh Lad, was deputed to assist nearly 200 tourists from Karnataka affected by the attack and help arrange flights for their safe return.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) is scheduled to meet tomorrow at 11 AM in the AICC office, Delhi, to discuss the incident. Kharge revealed that he had preponed his programme to attend the meeting. "We will continue to work with the government to eliminate terrorism from its roots," he said, reaffirming the party's commitment to addressing the challenge of terrorism.

In his address, Kharge also called for heightened security measures, particularly for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. He urged the government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of pilgrims, as such attacks have targeted the Yatra in the past. "The Amarnath Yatra is about to begin, and security must be tightened to protect the Yatris," he said.

With Jammu and Kashmir’s economy heavily reliant on tourism, Kharge underscored the importance of restoring confidence in the region’s security arrangements. "The summer season is just beginning, and tourism is the biggest source of income for the people of Kashmir. The government must act swiftly to restore confidence," he said.

Kharge concluded by stressing the need for a unified approach in tackling terrorism and for all political parties to come together in the aftermath of such attacks. He also called for an all-party meeting to discuss the issue, emphasising that "this is not politics, and we don’t want politics in this situation."

The Congress Party, Kharge reiterated, stands committed to supporting the government in the fight against terrorism and working towards lasting peace and security for the people of India.

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