Modi’s Stern Message to the World, “India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers”
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Apr 24: From the soil of Bihar, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a stern message to the world, “India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the world.”
Mr Modi was addressing an event at Madhubani in Bihar about 48 hours after the gruesome terror attack on the innocent tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday evening killing 26 of them and injuring many others turning picturesque Baisaran Valley into a scene of bloodbath.
Speaking in Hindi narrating the grief the country was experiencing over the barbaric attack, Mr Modi deliberately switched to English to address the global community directly ensuring that it resonates around the world.
“From the soil of Bihar, I am telling the world that India will identify and punish every terrorist, and those behind them,” he said. “We will pursue them to the ends of the world… India’s spirit will never be broken and terrorism will not go unpunished. Every effort will be made to ensure justice is done. The entire nation is firm in this resolve and everyone who believes in humanity is with us…” the Prime Minister said.
“I want to say… in very clear words… that these terrorists and those who conspired towards this attack will get a punishment bigger than they can imagine…” Mr Modi thundered. The warning was fierce, but it was the switch to English that was significant. The remarks have been seen as India telling the world it will not take this brutal attack lying down, that there will be consequences, and that the terrorists and terrorism as a whole have been put on notice.
He added, again in English, “Terrorism will not go unpunished. Every effort will be made to make sure that justice is done. The entire nation is one in this resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us. I thank the people of various countries and their leaders who have stood with us…The punishment will be significant and stringent, which these terrorists would have never even thought about …”
The English message also included notes of thanks to the countries – the European Union, the United States, Israel, Russia, and China – that have united in condemning the Pahalgam attack. In issuing the warning, Mr Modi did not mention Pakistan but indication was clear that this was a veiled reference to the neighbouring country and could signal more stringent action than has already been taken.
India has begun measured responses to the Tuesday afternoon attack including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a 65-year-old agreement to share the waters of the Indus River system that is seen as crucial to Pakistan’s economy. The Prime Minister – who was in Saudi Arabia when the attack happened but flew back cutting short his visit, has held multiple meetings to review the security situation in J&K and plan India’s responses, which could yet include military strikes.
In the hours after the attack Mr Modi had vowed vengeance against those responsible – the gunmen and the planners – and said he would not let terrorism’s evil agenda succeed. In an X post, said, “Those behind this heinous act will not be spared… their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakeable…”
Addressing the National Panchayati Raj Day in Bihar’s Madhubani, Mr Modi started his speech after observing a minute’s silence to pay tributes to the victims of the terror attack. He said the entire country was in pain because of the ruthless manner in which terrorists killed innocent tourists in Pahalgam. “The whole country is with the bereaved families. The government is trying its best to ensure the well-being of those injured.”
Mr Modi also made a pitch for national integration beyond linguistic boundaries — the linguistic divide has been in the news for some time now — underlining that those who lost their lives spoke different Indian languages and belonged to different states and that the nation stood firm with all of them. “Someone has lost a son, someone has lost a brother, someone has lost life partner. Someone spoke Bengali, someone spoke Kannada, someone was Marathi, someone was Odia, someone was Gujarati and someone was Bihar’s son,” he said.
“From Kargil to Kanyakumari, there is grief and rage. This attack was not just on innocent tourists; the country’s enemies have shown the audacity to attack India’s soul,” the Prime Minister said. He said the terrorists who carried out the attack and those who plotted it would “get a punishment they cannot imagine”. “The time has come to raze whatever is left of the terror haven. The will of 140 crores will break the back of the masters of terror,” he said, his words apparently directed at Pakistan, which is known to have backed acts of terror on Indian soil.
Expressing his resolve that India’s response to the terror attack would be exemplary, Mr Modi said, “I say in clear words, those who carried out this terror attack and those who planned it will get a punishment beyond their imagination. They shall be punished. It is time to render into dust the remaining land of terrorists. The resolve of 140-crore Indians will now break the backs of the masters of terror.”
Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India has a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism. “We will not only reach the perpetrators of this act but also the actors behind the scenes… The accused will soon see a loud and clear response, I want to assure the country,” he said.
