NEW DELHI, April 25: A high-level all-party meeting convened on Thursday under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh concluded with a strong display of national unity and unanimous condemnation of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The attack claimed the lives of over 20 innocent and unarmed civilians, most of whom were tourists.

The meeting began with a solemn two-minute silence in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the carnage. Leaders across the political spectrum expressed deep grief and pledged to stand together in the face of terrorism.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, emerging from the meeting, described the deliberations as “very positive.” He emphasized that all leaders in attendance unequivocally supported the Central government’s firm stance against Pakistan. Rijiju reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism—a policy that received unanimous backing, including for any future actions deemed necessary.

Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also voiced full support for the government. “We have made it clear that whatever action the government takes in this matter, the Opposition will support it,” he stated.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted the need for sustained and concrete efforts to maintain peace in Jammu and Kashmir. He urged all political parties to work collaboratively to prevent such heinous attacks in the future.

Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav took the opportunity to urge media houses and social media platforms to exercise responsibility during such sensitive times. He warned against promoting divisive narratives and emphasized the importance of national unity.

AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi brought international attention to the matter, pointing out that the United Nations Security Council explicitly prohibits any country from supporting terrorism or funding terrorist organizations. “Pakistan has been violating this for many years,” he said.

The nearly two-hour meeting ended with a collective reaffirmation of commitment to national security and unity. The Central government briefed the leaders on the strict measures already taken against Pakistan in the immediate aftermath of the attack and assured them that all necessary steps would be taken to prevent a recurrence.