Madhubani: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that India will punish every terrorist involved in the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack, and the country’s spirit will not be broken by terrorism. The PM and the crowd at the Panchayati Raj event in Madhubani observed silence and paid homage to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.The Prime Minister came down heavily on terrorism. “On April 22, in Pahalgam, the way terrorists have killed innocent people, the entire country is in sorrow. The entire country stands with the victims and their families. Our government is making every possible effort to ensure that the injured recover. In this terror attack, someone lost a partner, some used to speak Bengali, Kannada, some were Marathi, Odia, Gujarati, and someone was from Bihar. From Kargil to Kanyakumari, we share the same sorrow. This attack was not only on tourists, but on India’s soul,” the Prime Minister said.
“Today, on the soil of Bihar, I say to the world whole, India will punish every terrorist. Those behind the Pahalgam terror attack and those part of the conspiracy will be punished beyond their imagination. Now, the time has come to wipe out terrorism. Every effort will be made to ensure justice is done and the entire nation is firm in this resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us,” the Prime Minister said.”I say to the whole world, India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers. India’s spirit will never be broken by terrorism. We will pursue them to the ends of the earth. I thank the people of various countries and their leaders, who have stood with us in these times,” the Prime Minister asserted.It is perhaps for the first time that the Prime Minister spoke in English during a public rally or a gathering, as he wanted to give a stern message.”The punishment will be significant and stringent, which these terrorists would have never even thought about,” he quipped.At least 26 people were killed by terrorists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. This was the Prime Minister’s first public address after the terror attack in Pahalgam, which shook the conscience of the nation.
On Wednesday, April 23, the Prime Minister chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, following which several actions were imposed on Pakistan. India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and announced a raft of measures, including expulsion of Pakistani military attaches, suspension of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post in view of the cross-border links to the horrific Pahalgam terror attack.The gunning down of tourists by terrorists has sparked outrage across the country and a demand for decisive action from the Modi government, which is identified with a muscular stand on the plank of national security.During the rally, the Prime Minister listed the achievements of his government in the last decade. “Our government is modernising dozens of railway stations in Bihar. Due to the development works, a new employment opportunity is possible in Bihar,” Prime Minister Modi said in the presence of Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar.