
Kochi (Kerala), May 3 (ANI): Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, after meeting the family of N Ramachandran, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, emphasized the need for India to stay united and reject any efforts by terrorists to divide the nation on religious lines.
Speaking to ANI, Tharoor praised the family of Ramachandran for their dignity and resilience in the face of tragedy. “The family has conducted themselves with such grace, dignity, and decency that this must be acknowledged and praised. They made a very, very moving statement during the funeral,” he said.
Tharoor highlighted the importance of the family’s message: “They have done something which is so important for all of India to understand—that we cannot let the terrorists decide who we should be. We cannot let the terrorists who want to divide us on the grounds of religion succeed in dividing us.”
He urged the nation to remain strong in the face of terrorism, adding, “For our country and for the future of our country, we cannot let the terrorists change us. We cannot let the terrorists make us into what they want us to be and what they want to show the world.”
The April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran valley killed 26 tourists, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepalese citizen. It was one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama attack.
Following the attack, on April 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting with top military officials, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The Prime Minister expressed complete confidence in the Indian armed forces and their ability to respond to threats with full operational freedom.
Tharoor’s comments reflect the growing resolve among Indian leaders to stand united and confront terrorism without yielding to divisions based on religion.