JAMMU, APR 28: Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Ra-ther on Monday strongly condemned the brutal killing of 26 people, including tourists and a local pony-walla, in the terrorist attack at Baisaran in Pahalgam on April 22.
During a special daylong session of the Assembly convened in the aftermath of the horrific at-tack, the Speaker and Members of the House expressed their collective anguish and shock over what was described as a barbaric assault on peace and humanity.
Leading the obituary references from the floor of the House, Speaker Rather paid glowing trib-utes to the victims and called the tragedy “an attack not just on individuals, but on the very idea of humanity.”
The House solemnly honored the deceased by reading out their names, which included Vinay Narwal, N. Ramachandran, Dinesh Agarwal, Atul Shrikant Moni, Neeraj Udwani, Samer Guha, Sushil Nathyal, Sanjay Laxman, Sudeep Nopani, Bitain Adikari, Manjunath Rao, Dilip Desale, Prashant Satapati, Munish Ranjan, Syed Adil Hussain Shah, J.S. Chandar Mouli, Madhusudan Rao, Santosh Jaghdai, Kastoba Ganovota, Hemant Suhas Joshi, Shubham Diwedi, Bharat Bhu-shan, Sumit Parmar, Yatish Parmar, Tage Halying, and Shailesh Bhai.
Members of the House stood in silence for two minutes as a mark of respect to the lives lost.
Expressing profound grief, the Speaker called for collective resolve and unity against terrorism. “Let us send a strong message to the world that the entire nation condemns this barbaric act,” he said, urging all political parties and citizens to come together in rejecting violence in all forms.
He described the killings of innocent tourists who had come to enjoy the natural beauty of Kashmir as an “assault on humanity and peace.” He added, “The attack on innocent tourists is not just a crime against individuals, but an attack on humanity itself and an attempt to disturb peace and harmony.”
Extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, the Speaker expressed deep solidarity with their pain and loss. “Their dreams to witness Kashmir’s beauty and make cherished memo-ries were brutally shattered by a senseless act of violence,” he said.
The Speaker also appealed to the Government to take urgent and comprehensive steps to ensure the safety and security of Kashmiri students, citizens, and businesspeople living outside the Un-ion Territory, in the wake of rising tensions after the attack.
“This Special Session is meant to deliver a clear and unequivocal message — that the entire coun-try stands united in the fight against terrorism,” Rather said.
He concluded by urging that the most meaningful tribute to the victims would be a renewed and unwavering commitment to peace, compassion, and national unity. “Let us ensure their sacrifice does not go in vain,” he said.
