Srinagar, April 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the Pahalgam terror attack has hollowed the people of Jammu and Kashmir but also united them against terrorism, as the Legislative Assembly convened a special session to pay tribute to the victims.
Speaking in the special one day Session called in Assembly over Pahalgam Attack CM Omar as per news agency JKNS said, “It is still unbelievable that just a few days ago we were here debating the budget and other issues. When the House adjourned and you offered us tea, we hoped that next time we would meet in Srinagar. Who could have thought that we would be meeting again under such tragic circumstances?”
He thanked the Speaker for calling the special session on the request of the Council of Ministers. He said neither Parliament nor any other state assembly in India could feel the pain of the victims the way the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly understands.
The Chief Minister asked the Speaker to look around and see members who had personally lost loved ones. “In front of you sit people who have seen close relatives sacrificed — our little sister Shagun, Kesar, Sajjad, Sakina. Some lost uncles, some fathers, some brothers. Sajjad expressed his pain so deeply before the House that I probably don’t have better words to describe it,” he said. He added that Rafiq Sahib saw the attack on his father unfold before his eyes.
While remembering all 26 who lost their lives, CM Omar read out each name with respect and solidarity, saying the House truly understands their pain more than anyone else.
Calling it the “biggest attack on civilians in the last 21 years,” he said, “As the former Tourism Minister, I had invited them here as guests. It was my duty to ensure their safety.” Expressing grief, he added, “What can I say to the families? What was the fault of these people? They had come just for a vacation.”
He said the entire country has been engulfed by the pain of the attack, adding, “This was not the first time; we have witnessed attacks on Amarnath pilgrims, Sikhs, and Kashmiri Pandits before. This Baisaran attack came after 21 years and has once again created fear about where the next attack might happen.”
Calling the moment historic, CM Omar said, “This is the beginning of the end of terror,” showing cautious optimism despite the devastation.
He emotionally recalled the scene when a young boy saw his father’s bloodied body and asked what answer he could give to such a child. He said one tourist told him they had come for the first time for a vacation and were met with such tragedy.
However, he emphasized, “Today, people are united against terror.” Saluting the locals, he said, “The poor people, the Shikara wallahs on Dal Lake, selling fruits, putting small posters offering free dry fruits to tourists, the auto-rickshaw drivers at the airport offering free rides — they all helped tourists selflessly in this difficult time.”
He described an unprecedented scene where even Jamia Masjid Srinagar observed two minutes of silence. “Nobody outside Kashmir, only you and I, can feel what this two-minute silence at Jamia Masjid really indicates,” he said, underlining the shift in public sentiment.
CM Omar also spoke about the hardships faced by Kashmiri students and residents outside Jammu and Kashmir following the attack. He said nobody could deny these difficulties but thanked the Chief Ministers of various states who acted swiftly to protect them. “We are building a system where, in case of such incidents, our children will at least have a place to register their grievances,” he said.
Issuing a stern warning, he said, “I want to warn all those media channels that spread fake news — refrain from such mischiefs.” He stressed that it is important not to add to the suffering by spreading misinformation.
Ending his emotional speech, CM Omar made it clear that he would not use the tragic moment to make political demands. “After Pahalgam, with what face can I ask for statehood for Jammu and Kashmir? Is my politics so cheap?” he asked. He said discussions about statehood would continue at an appropriate time but added, “It would be shameful if I went to the central government now and said 26 people have died, so give us statehood.” (JKNS)
