'Don't think you've won the war': Amit Shah to Pahalgam perpetrators

NEW DELHI: Home minister Amit Shah Thursday said terrorists are mistaken if they believe that by killing innocent civilians in Pahalgam, they have won the war, as he publicly vowed a targeted response against each and every one involved in the atrocity and pledged to uproot every act of terrorism from Indian soil. He added that those responsible for the attack will be held accountable and given appropriate response.

"Today, they should not think that by killing 27 citizens, they have won the war. I want to tell all the perpetrators of terrorism that this is not the end of the fight but only a turning point... ek makam hai, har vyakti ko chun-chun kar jawab milega, jawab bhi liya jayega (each one involved will be given a fitting response and will be held accountable too)," Shah said in his first public speech after the slaughter of tourists at Pahalgam.

Shah, who was addressing a meeting after the unveiling of the statue of Upendranath Brahma, a leading figure among the Bodos, in Delhi, asserted that the fight against terrorists and their backers would continue until each one of perpetrators is punished.

Shah said BJP govt, under PM Modi's leadership, has effectively tackled terror threats everywhere - be it in the northeast, areas impacted by left-wing extremism, or in Kashmir - and has given befitting responses. "If anyone thinks that a cowardly attack is their big victory, they must remember this is Narendra Modi's India - none will be spared. Our resolve is to uproot terrorism from every inch of India, and it will become a reality," he added.

Soon after the terror attack, the home minister had rushed to Srinagar and visited Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam. He met the grieving families and vowed that the "culprits of this dastardly terror attack will not be spared".

Last week, the PM in his first remarks at a public event in Bihar, had issued a similar warning. "We will go to the ends of the earth to find the perpetrators," he had said.

Shah, in his address, said no Bodo should have an inferiority complex; they have the same rights in the country as the home minister himself.

Recalling the signing of Bodo Accord in 2020 after nine months of discussions, Shah said everyone dropped their weapons and joined the mainstream. "I want to tell all tribes that BJP govt honours the pacts it signs. We are implementing several agreements that were signed before us. They (earlier govts) did not follow them. We have cleared 96% of issues that were part of Bodo Accord. We will resolve 100% issues before next election in Assam," he added.

The home minister said that Modi govt has signed over 20 accords in the northeast and over 10,000 people have surrendered and integrated inro the society. "On an average, 78% of the issues have been resolved in the past four years... This shows what we do what we say," he added.

Earlier, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sharma highlighted the progress made in the state under BJP rule and said that the state, which previously used to see violence, now hardly reports any incidents.