In an emotionally charged address during his Gujarat visit on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep anguish over the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 innocent lives, most of them tourists. He attributed the root cause of such continued tragedies to the Partition of India in 1947, describing it as a historical wound whose consequences are still unfolding.
Speaking at an event marking 20 years of Gujarat’s urban development journey, the Prime Minister reflected on the heavy price India has paid since Partition. “Had we listened to Sardar Patel and not stopped our Army until we recovered the entire region of Kashmir, perhaps today’s pain could have been avoided,” he said, his voice tinged with regret and determination. Modi lamented that the seeds of terror were sown immediately after Partition, with the first terrorist attack reported in Kashmir soon after the country was divided.
The horrific Pahalgam incident, he said, is a continuation of that legacy. “What happened in Pahalgam was a distorted form of that very first attack. For 75 years, the nation has borne the brunt of that decision,” he said. He paid tribute to the Indian Armed Forces, noting that whenever India and Pakistan clashed directly, our soldiers emerged victorious. He stressed that India’s strength has consistently been demonstrated on the battlefield, forcing Pakistan to resort to indirect means of conflict through terrorism.
Referring to the recent cross-border operation named ‘Operation Sindoor,’ the Prime Minister reiterated India’s resolve to counter terrorism with precision and strength. On May 7, in response to the Pahalgam attack, Indian forces carried out targeted strikes on nine terror camps across the border. The tension between the two nations escalated briefly, culminating in a mutual decision to cease military action by May 10.
Modi didn’t mince words when discussing Pakistan’s role in sheltering and honouring terrorists. “These acts are not isolated incidents of proxy war — they are part of a calculated and supported strategy. When terrorists receive military honours and coffins wrapped in national flags, it becomes clear that the fight is with an organised force, not just extremist ideology,” he said. He made it clear that India desires peace but will not hesitate to respond to aggression with firm resolve.
In his speech, the Prime Minister also touched on India’s remarkable economic progress. Recalling how India was the 11th largest economy when he assumed office in 2014, he proudly declared that the country now holds the fourth position globally. He described this ascent as a symbolic reversal of colonial history, referencing the moment when India surpassed the United Kingdom in global rankings.
“There is no stopping now,” he said with conviction. “The pressure is on, but so is our determination. We are on a mission to become the world’s third-largest economy and ultimately a developed nation by 2047.”
As the country mourns the lives lost in Pahalgam, Modi’s words struck a chord—honouring the memory of the victims, reminding citizens of the long arc of history, and pledging a future where India stands stronger, more united, and ever more resilient.
