Hyderabad (Telangana) [India]: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi led a candlelight march in Hyderabad on Friday, protesting the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and paying tribute to the victims.
Organised as a powerful show of national unity against terrorism, the march saw participation from leaders and citizens across communities.
Key Statements from CM Revanth Reddy:
- On National Unity:
“We urge you to move forward, and we, the 140 crore Indians, will stand with you.” - On PoK:
“Divide Pakistan into two parts and merge Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with India—we are all with you.” - On Terror Response:
“This is not the time for politics. Now is the time to respond strongly. All 140 crore citizens have taken this attack to heart.” - Global Solidarity:
“From Telangana alone, 4 crore people and representatives from at least 100 countries stand in the fight against terrorism.” - On Supporting PM Modi:
“We support our Prime Minister in taking decisive action against terrorism.”
Historical Parallels Cited:
Reddy invoked the firm military responses of former PM Indira Gandhi, referencing:
- The 1967 clash with China
- The 1971 war with Pakistan, leading to the creation of Bangladesh
He called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to now take similarly decisive action against Pakistan, stressing:
“The time for negotiations is over. It is time to give a fitting reply.”
Context:
The remarks follow the April 22 terror attack in Baisaran meadow, Pahalgam, where 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali national were killed. This incident is one of the deadliest since the 2019 Pulwama bombing and a grave act of violence post the abrogation of Article 370.