THE Jammu and Kashmir Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Monday expressing shock and anguish over the Pahalgam terrorist attack and resolved to fight resolutely to defeat the nefarious designs to disturb communal harmony and hinder progress. The resolution, moved by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary during a special session of the Assembly, was passed by voice vote. At the beginning of the session, House members observed a two-minute silence to pay homage to the 26 people killed in the attack last week. “The Legislative Assembly of J&K reaffirms its unwavering commitment to foster an environment of peace, development, and inclusive prosperity for all its citizens, and to resolutely defeat nefarious designs of those who seek to disturb the communal harmony and progress of the nation and of Jammu and Kashmir,” the resolution stated.

 

Concluding a discussion on the resolution, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the tourism portfolio, condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and admitted that he failed in his responsibility of ensuring a safe return for tourists. “As the Chief Minister and Tourism Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, I had invited these people here. It was my responsibility to ensure they were sent back safely to their homes. I could not send them back,” he said. Abdullah further said he had no words to apologise to them. “What could I have told a child whose father was stained with blood wounds, or to the woman who was just married? They were seeking answers as to what their mistake was, as they had come for the first time to enjoy holidays in Kashmir,” he said.

 

He said the security in Jammu and Kashmir is not the responsibility of the elected Government. “But I will not use this opportunity (terror attack) to seek statehood. How can I push for statehood or business rules using the Pahalgam terror attack?” Addressing the Assembly earlier while moving the resolution, Deputy Chief Minister Choudhary said, “This House expresses its profound shock and anguish at the barbaric and inhuman attack on innocent civilians in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025.” He reiterated the House’s unequivocal condemnation of the heinous and cowardly act that resulted in the loss of innocent lives. Quoting the resolution, Choudhary said, “Such acts of terror are a direct assault on the ethos of Kashmiriyat, the values enshrined in our Constitution, and the spirit of unity, peace, and harmony that have long characterized Jammu and Kashmir and our nation.”

 

This House stands in full solidarity with the victims and their families, the document stated. “We extend our deepest condolences to those who have suffered irreparable loss and affirm our collective resolve to share their grief and support them in their hour of need.” It mentioned the supreme sacrifice of pony ride operator Syed Adil Hussain Shah who laid down his life while trying to save the tourists from the terrorist attack. “His courage and selflessness embody the true spirit of Kashmir and shall serve as an enduring inspiration for future generations.”