PATNA, April 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday issued a powerful warning to the “enemies” of the nation, asserting that India will “identify, trace, and punish” every terrorist and their supporters, pursuing them to the “ends of the Earth.” His statement comes in the aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, on April 22.
Speaking at a massive public gathering in Bihar’s Madhubani on the occasion of Panchayati Raj Day, the Prime Minister began his address by observing a two-minute silence and paid heartfelt tributes to the victims. “Before I begin my speech, I would like to request all of you to observe a moment of silence to pay tribute to the families we lost in terror attacks on April 22,” PM Modi said.
Condemning the “cowardly” attack, Modi described the brutal killing of innocent civilians as a direct strike on the “soul of India.” “The brutal killing of innocent citizens by terrorists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22 has deeply saddened the entire nation. Millions of Indians are grieving. The whole country stands with the bereaved families in their time of sorrow,” he stated.
Highlighting the diversity of the victims, he added, “In this terrorist attack, some lost their son, some lost brothers, some lost their life partners. Some of the victims spoke Bangla, some spoke Kannada, some Marathi, Odia, Gujarati and Bihari. From Kargil to Kanyakumari, we are all grieving for them.”
The Prime Minister further emphasized the government’s commitment to delivering justice. “This attack was not only on the unarmed tourists, but the enemies of the nation have dared to attack the soul of India. I would like to make it clear that those who have carried out this terrorist attack and those who have planned it will get a bigger punishment than they can imagine. We will punish them,” he declared.
“Today, from the soil of Bihar, I tell the entire 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. Terrorism will not go unpunished. Every effort will be made to ensure justice is done. The entire nation is firm in this resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us,” the Prime Minister affirmed.
PM Modi also extended his gratitude to the international community, stating, “I thank the various countries and the nations who have stood with us in these times.”
The terror attack in Pahalgam, believed to be carried out by Pakistan-based outfit The Resistance Front, has sparked a wave of sweeping retaliatory measures from India. The Prime Minister’s speech underscores the nation’s firm stance against terrorism and its commitment to ensuring that such acts do not go unanswered.
