SRINAGAR: In an emotionally charged and historic special session, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Monday stood together in grief and defiance, unanimously condemning the heinous terrorist attack at Baisaran, Pahalgam, that claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians, including a local pony-walla, Syed Adil Hussain Shah.
The day began with an emotional and stirring address by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who, speaking with visible grief, condemned the attack as an assault on the soul of India. Reflecting on the painful circumstances that brought the House together, Abdullah said, “It is hard to believe that just a few days ago, we were engaged in vibrant debates. None of us could have imagined we would meet again under such tragic and painful circumstances.”
Thanking Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for convening the special session, the Chief Minister emphasised the Assembly’s unique ability to understand the gravity of the loss, recalling past sacrifices made by legislators like Shagun Parihar, Sakina Itoo, and Sajad Lone during previous terror attacks. “No other Assembly can comprehend the grief as ours can,” he said.
In a deeply personal reflection, Omar Abdullah spoke of his helplessness at the police control room while paying respects to the victims, lamenting that despite hopes that terrorism was behind them, tragedy had returned to Kashmir after two decades. He underlined that the victims hailed from across the nation, representing the unity of India itself — from Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat, Kerala to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister lauded the spontaneous public condemnation of the attack across Jammu and Kashmir, describing how banners reading “Not In My Name” were raised without any political prompting. He narrated touching stories of humanity shown by ordinary Kashmiris — a ponywala risking his life to save tourists, a Dal Lake fruit-seller offering free meals, and hoteliers and taxi drivers opening their homes to stranded visitors.
“This attack was done against us, not for us,” he declared, urging people to stand firmly with forces of peace. Acknowledging that security was not under the elected government’s control, Omar Abdullah refused to politicise the tragedy. “I have too much respect for the sanctity of these 26 lives to indulge in petty politics,” he said, calling instead for solidarity and collective grief.
Later, in a moving moment, the names of the 26 victims — including Vinay Narwal, N. Ramachandran, Dinesh Agarwal, Atul Shrikant Moni, Neeraj Udwani, Samer Guha, Sushil Nathyal, and others — were solemnly read out and made part of the obituary reference led by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, who led the day’s proceedings, strongly condemned the “barbaric killing” and called the attack “an assault on humanity and peace.” “Let us send a strong message to the world that the entire nation stands united against this barbarism,” he said, urging the Assembly to honour the victims by reaffirming its commitment to peace, brotherhood, and unity.
The House observed a two-minute silence as a mark of respect and unanimously passed a resolution condemning the attack. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary moved the resolution, which Speaker Rather put to a voice vote. The resolution described the attack as “a direct assault on the ethos of Kashmiriyat, the Constitution, and the spirit of unity, peace, and harmony that define Jammu and Kashmir and the Nation.”
In its powerful language, the resolution saluted the courage of Shaheed Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who laid down his life while saving tourists. It praised the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their extraordinary unity and compassion, endorsed the diplomatic steps taken by the Union Government, and appealed to the entire country, from political parties to civil society groups, to reject violence and divisive rhetoric.
The Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma, speaking emotionally, said the paradise that is Kashmir was stained by an unspeakable tragedy. “The whole humanity stands shattered. Our message today must be clear — the people of Jammu and Kashmir are badly hurt and stand in solidarity with every victim family,” he said, praising the people for giving a “befitting reply to terrorists” through their unity.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary echoed the sentiment, praising Kashmiris for upholding their centuries-old traditions of hospitality and communal harmony.
Other legislators also voiced their pain and solidarity. Ghulam Ahmad Mir said that people from every walk of life condemned the despicable act and emphasised unity. Sajad Gani Lone stressed that Kashmiris had overwhelmingly rejected violence. Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami reminded the House that terrorism has no religion, and Altaf Ahmad Wani (Kaloo) said the people of Pahalgam deserved special mention for their selfless support to injured tourists.
Muzaffar Iqbal Khan and Waheed ur Rehman Parra both spoke of the broader humanitarian impact of the attack. Parra, while condemning the crime as against humanity itself, urged martyr status for the victims. Shabir Ahmad Kullay, Sheikh Khursheed, Mehraj Malik, and others also made heartfelt interventions, each reaffirming that Kashmir’s true spirit lies in peace, not violence.
Sheikh Khursheed made a unique suggestion that a memorial for the victims should be built at Pahalgam, with contributions from all MLAs’ salaries, a proposal welcomed by many members.
The Assembly session ended with the Speaker adjourning the House sine die, having sent a resounding message of grief, resilience, and unity not just to Jammu and Kashmir, but to the entire country.
As the House rose, the overwhelming sentiment was clear: the 26 lives lost in Pahalgam would not be forgotten, and their memory would fuel the collective resolve of a people determined to defeat the forces of terror and uphold the values of humanity, peace, and unity.
