PM Modi: Pahalgam Attack Echoes Partition’s Wounds, Calls for Reclaiming PoK

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a visit to Gujarat on Tuesday, linked the recent Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, primarily tourists, to the 1947 partition of India. Addressing a gathering to commemorate 20 years of Gujarat’s urban growth, Modi asserted that the division of the country should have been more decisive.

Partition’s Legacy: A 75-Year Struggle

“When the Partition happened in 1947, the chains should have been cut at that time. Instead, the country was divided into three parts. Soon after, the first terrorist attack was reported in Kashmir, and Pakistan occupied one part of Kashmir,” Modi stated.

He further lamented that India had suffered for 75 years due to this unresolved issue, and the Pahalgam attack was a grim manifestation of that enduring struggle. Modi emphasized the Indian Army’s consistent victories against Pakistan, suggesting that the recent resurgence of terrorism was a desperate attempt by Pakistan to achieve its goals through proxy warfare.

Remembering Sardar Patel’s Vision

Modi recalled Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s vision, stating that the legendary freedom fighter had advocated for the Indian Army to pursue a resolute approach to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Operation Sindoor and India’s Response

The Prime Minister’s remarks come two weeks after India conducted air strikes on alleged terrorist camps in Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam attack, an operation known as ‘Operation Sindoor’. This military action, which involved four days of heightened tension between the two nuclear-armed nations, ultimately led to a ceasefire agreement.

Economic Progress Amidst Challenges

Modi also highlighted India’s economic progress since he took office in 2014, emphasizing that the nation has risen to become the world’s fourth-largest economy. He expressed his ambition to propel India further, aiming for the third-largest spot in the global economic hierarchy.