Ghaziabad, April 23 (NationPress) Former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam expressed profound sadness over the tragic terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which resulted in a toll of at least 26 lives lost and numerous others injured.

Labeling it as an assault on the entire nation and humanity, Krishnam stated to IANS, “This is not merely an attack on Jammu and Kashmir -- it’s an assault on India and on humanity as a whole. This act is not representative of humanity; it is the handiwork of evil. The global community mourns terrorism. The entire world stands united with J&K and India.

He highlighted the necessity for decisive action against Pakistan in the wake of this attack.

“We need to implement stringent measures against Pakistan for such terror incidents,” he emphasized, urging for accountability from the neighboring country.

In reaction to divisive sentiments including calls to exclude Muslims from the Char Dham Yatra, Krishnam firmly rejected such notions.

“Now is not the moment to discuss Hindus and Muslims. It is a moment for unity. This is an assault on our nation. Pakistan aims to create division between Hindus and Muslims and disrupt our harmony,” he declared.

He also referred to the terror attack as a significant conspiracy.

“This is a meticulously orchestrated scheme to identify and target Hindus. Every Indian must rally behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi during this pivotal moment,” he urged.

Upon commenting on Prime Minister Modi's swift return from Saudi Arabia after the attack, Krishnam remarked, “The world, including Islamic nations, supports Narendra Modi. As citizens, we must lend our support to our Prime Minister now.”

In the meantime, Prime Minister Modi returned to India, truncating his visit to Saudi Arabia due to the incident. Upon his arrival, he convened a high-level meeting at the Delhi airport with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. A Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting is set for 6 p.m. today.

The Pahalgam attack, the most lethal in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike, transpired on Tuesday at Baisaran meadow in Anantnag district. This location is accessible solely on foot or via pony, with the victims being a group of tourists.

The Resistance Front, a proxy group for the banned Pakistan-based terror organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the incident, although official confirmation from the government is awaited.

Prime Minister Modi condemned the attack and pledged that those responsible for this “heinous act will face justice and will not evade accountability.”