New Delhi [India]: In the aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead, mostly tourists, and many others injured, the Union government is expected to convene an all-party meeting on Thursday to discuss the national response to the incident.
The attack, which took place on Tuesday at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, is among the most severe terror strikes in the region since the 2019 Pulwama attack.
In a post shared Thursday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh reiterated the party’s earlier demand for a collective political response.
“On the night of April 22nd itself the Indian National Congress had asked for an All-Party meeting to discuss the fallout of the brutal Pahalgam terror attack and the targeted killings of so many tourists. Considering the extreme seriousness of the issue and the mood of the nation, the Indian National Congress expects the PM to chair the All-Party meeting scheduled for 6 PM today and take all political parties into confidence and build a collective resolve,”
said Ramesh.
Sources indicate that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair the meeting, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be present, though it hasn’t been confirmed officially.
On Wednesday, PM Modi cut short his scheduled visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to Delhi early in response to the attack. He chaired a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting at his residence in the evening.
“In the wake of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, chaired a meeting of the CCS at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg,”
PM Modi posted on X.
The high-level CCS meeting was attended by key officials including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
Earlier, Rajnath Singh condemned the killings, stating that the government would respond “loud and clear” to those responsible.
“Strict action will be taken against the perpetrators of this heinous crime,” Singh stated.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also called for a separate all-party meeting in Srinagar at 3 PM today, to be held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC).
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the Government Medical College (GMC) in Anantnag on Wednesday to meet those injured in the attack. He also conducted an aerial survey of the Baisaran meadow area before landing at the site of the tragedy.
The collective political meetings come as the country mourns and seeks a united response to what is being seen as one of the most targeted and calculated terror strikes against civilians in recent years.