NEW DELHI: NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Sunday made a passionate appeal for unity, warning that terrorists behind the Pahalgam massacre aimed to spark communal riots across the country.
On April 22, terrorists stormed the popular tourist spot of Pahalgam in Kashmir’s Anantnag district, killing 26 people, including six from Maharashtra, in a chilling attack that triggered nationwide outrage and drew condemnation from around the world.
“The campaign of Hindu versus Muslim must stop,” Bhujbal said. “If we truly want to defeat terrorism, we must stand united. Muslims across India, including in Kashmir, have condemned this attack and organized protest marches. A Muslim brother also fell victim to the terrorists’ bullets in Pahalgam,” he added.
Bhujbal stressed that the terrorists’ real goal was to fracture society along religious lines. “Their objective was to create communal discord and fan riots. People must not fall into their trap,” he asserted.
His comments come at a time when Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane stirred controversy by urging Hindus to ask shopkeepers about their religion before making purchases.
Eyewitnesses to the Pahalgam carnage have reported that the attackers allegedly singled out Hindus by asking those present to recite the ‘kalma,’ the Islamic declaration of faith, a chilling detail that has fueled tensions further.