‘Peace was returning…:’ PM Modi says terrorists couldn’t stomach Kashmir’s progress

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday (April 27) condemned the Kashmir terrorist attack, saying it was a desperate attempt by terrorists to derail the region’s economic progress.

Speaking during his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ monthly radio show, the PM said the Jammu and Kashmir region, whose autonomous status was stripped by New Delhi in 2019, saw unprecedented economic growth and tourism boom in recent years. He said several colleges, universities were built over the past year in the region, presenting various opportunities to the youth.

“At a time when peace was returning to Kashmir, there was vibrancy in schools and colleges, the democracy was getting strengthened, there was a rise in tourism and new opportunities were getting generated for the youth, but the enemies of Jammu and Kashmir and the country did not like this. Terrorists want to destroy Kashmir once again,” the PM said.

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‘Global leaders stand behind India’

PM Modi then mentioned how global leaders lined up to call him and express solidarity with India soon after the Pahalgam attack, which left 26 people dead.

“Global leaders have called me, written letters, sent messages. Everyone has strongly condemned this heinous terrorist attack…The entire world stands with the 1.4 billion Indians in our fight against terrorism,” PM Modi said.

He also reiterated that the victims and their families will receive justice, vowing that the masterminds and perpetrators of the attack would be met with the toughest possible action.

This is Modi’s second public reaction to the incident. At the time of the attack, the PM was in Saudi Arabia for bilateral talks. He had to cut his visit short and fly back home.

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Earlier this week, PM Modi said India will pursue the attackers “to the ends of the Earth” while delivering a speech in Bihar.

“Today, on the soil of Bihar, I say to the whole world, India will identify, trace and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth. India’s spirit will never be broken by terrorism,” PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Modi promised that terrorism will not go unpunished and India will do everything to deliver justice for the innocent lives lost. He said the punishment would be so harsh that the terrorists could not even imagine it.

India has already responded by taking a slew of punitive measures against Pakistan, with intelligence agencies hinting at Islamabad’s direct or indirect role in the attack. India has held in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty, a key water-sharing pact.