Srinagar, 10 June (H.S.): Senior Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravinder Raina today said that the people of Kashmir have defeated the designs of terrorists and enemies of peace by standing united after the Pahalgam terror attack.

Speaking during his visit to Pahalgam, Raina praised the people of the Valley for their unity and bravery in the face of the April 22 terror attack that targeted tourists. He hailed the Kashmiris for their patriotism and sacrifice, particularly highlighting the bravery of locals who risked their lives to protect tourists during the attack. “I am on a tour of the valleys of Kashmir; visiting different areas. I came here on the Vande Bharat train launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. And I can see that people are returning to Kashmir with tears in their eyes. The scenes of happiness are coming back,” he said.

He said tourists are now returning in large number to Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Dal Lake and Lal Chowk, reflecting a renewed sense of peace and hope in the region. “I request the whole of India to come to Kashmir. Kashmir is the land of all of us. Kashmiris are our brothers and sisters,” he said.

Raina paid tribute to those who stood against terror on April 22, and fell prey to terrorists in Pahalgam. “Those were the same Kashmiris who, during the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, sacrificed their lives to save tourists. This was an attack on the soul of India, the soul of Kashmir, on Kashmiriyat and humanity,” he said.

He recalled Prime Minister Modi’s remarks in Qatar, where he referred to the Pahalgam attack as a conspiracy to divide India on religious lines. “But the people of Kashmir, of Jammu, and the rest of India stood united and defeated this conspiracy. Kashmiris came out with the national flag and gave the slogan: ‘We are Indians, India is ours.’ They also raised the slogan that terrorism is unacceptable.”

He said that the youth of Kashmir snatched the gun from the terrorist and fought. The whole of India salutes the spirit of these youth. “After the April 22 attack, Kashmiris gave a clear message to the enemies of peace and to the terrorists from Pakistan – that no more oppression will be tolerated.”

Urging all Indians to visit the Valley, Raina said, “Come and spend a few days in the valleys of paradise. Come to Kashmir, which is known as the heaven on Earth.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar