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JAMMU: Speaker, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, today strongly condemned the brutal killing of 26 tourists including a local pony-walla by the terrorists at Baisaran in Pahalgam on April 22. A daylong special session was called where Speaker and members expressed their anguish and shock over the barbaric terrorist attack, in which 26 innocents persons lost their lives.

Leading the obituary references during a special session of the House, the Speaker from the floor paid glowing tributes to the 26 innocent lives lost in the horrific attack.

The House solemnly remembered and honored the victims, including Vinay Narwal, N. Ramachandran, Dinesh Agarwal, Atul Shrikant Moni, Neeraj Udwani, Samer Guha, Sushil Nathyal, Sanjay Laxman, Sudeep Nopani, Bitain Adikari, Manjunath Rao, Dilip Desale, Prashant Satapati, Munish Ranjan, Syed Adil Hussain Shah, J.S. Chandar Mouli, Madhusudan Rao, Santosh Jaghdai, Kastoba Ganovota, Hemant Suhas Joshi, Shubham Diwedi, Bharat Bhushan, Sumit Parmar, Yatish Parmar, Tage Halying, and Shailesh Bhai.

The House  observed two minutes of silence as token of respect to the victims of this tragic incident. Expressing profound grief and sorrow, the Speaker called for unity against terrorism.“Let us  send a strong message to the world that the entire nation condemns this barbaric act," he said.

Emphasising the need for an unwavering resolve against terror in all its forms, the Speaker termed the killings of innocent tourists, who had come to enjoy Kashmir’s natural beauty as an assault on humanity and peace. "The attack on innocent tourists is not just a crime against individuals, but an attack on humanity itself and an attempt to disturb peace and harmony," he stated.

The Speaker extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, expressing deep solidarity and sympathy with their unimaginable pain. He called upon all sections of society to come together to reject violence and uphold the enduring values of peace, brotherhood, and unity. He said that the purpose of convening this Special Session is to deliver a clear message, that “the whole country stands united in the fight against terrorism."

Reaffirming unwavering support of the House to the victim families,  the  Speaker mourned that the dreams of tourists to witness natural beauty and make good memories in Kashmir, were brutally shattered by senseless act of violence. In order to ensure safety of Kashmiri students and business owners outside J&K, the Speaker urged the Government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of tourists, citizens, businessmen and the students of Jammu and Kashmir, studying in different parts of the Country. He called upon all Members of the House to work together to create a secure environment for all our citizens and visitors.

Lastly, the Speaker urged that tribute be paid to the victims by reaffirming the commitment to peace, tolerance and compassion, ensuring that their sacrifice would not go in vain.

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JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Monday passed a resolution condemning the recent heinous terrorist attack at Baisaran Pahalgam. The resolution, moved by Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Kumar Choudhary, was put to voice vote by Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather and subsequently passed unanimously.

The resolution read, “This House unequivocally condemns the heinous, cowardly act that resulted in the loss of innocent lives. Such acts of terror are a direct assault on the ethos of Kashmiriyat, the values enshrined in our Constitution and the spirit of unity, peace and harmony that have long characterized Jammu & Kashmir and our Nation.

This House stands in full solidarity with the victims and their families. We extend our deepest condolences to those who have suffered irreparable loss and affirm our collective resolve to share in their grief and support them in their hour of need. This House salutes the supreme sacrifice of Shaheed Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who, while bravely attempting to save the tourists, laid down his life. His courage and selflessness embody the true spirit of Kashmir and shall serve as an enduring inspiration for future generations.

This House commends the people of Jammu & Kashmir for their extraordinary display of unity, compassion and resilience in the aftermath of the attack. The peaceful demonstrations across the towns and villages and the spontaneous outpouring of moral and material support towards the tourists, reaffirm the people’s steadfast commitment to peace, communal harmony and the rule of law. This House endorses the diplomatic measures announced by the Union Government on 23rd April 2025, after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security.

This House is mindful of the sinister designs behind the selective targeting of the victims of this attack. It appeals to all the sections of the society and in particular the media to not fall victim to this sinister plot by irresponsibly inflaming passions. The need to remain united in the face of this attempted division cannot be overemphasized.

This House earnestly appeals to the Governments of all the States and Union Territories of India to ensure the safety, dignity and well-being of Kashmiri students and citizens residing or traveling outside Jammu & Kashmir, taking necessary measures to prevent any incident of harassment, discrimination or intimidation.

This House calls upon all the political parties, religious and community leaders, youth organizations, civil society groups and media houses across the nation to maintain calm, reject violence and divisive rhetoric and work collectively to uphold peace, unity and constitutional values”.

The resolution further read, “The Legislative Assembly of Jammu & Kashmir reaffirms its unwavering commitment to foster an environment of peace, development and inclusive prosperity for all its citizens and resolutely defeat the nefarious designs of those who seek to disturb the communal harmony and progress of the nation and of Jammu and Kashmir”.

Speaking on the resolution, Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma, while paying homage to the victims of Pahalgam attack, said that J&K is a paradise on earth, where people come to spend joyful moments of their life. He said that entire humanity has been shattered by this inhuman act and the whole country is in grief and shock.

Sharma said that a united voice in this difficult time is necessary to make these nefarious designs of terrorists unsuccessful. He added that no words can compensate for the loss of victim families of this horrible tragedy but the House wants to convey to the nation that people of Jammu and Kashmir are badly hurt by this inhuman incident and share their sympathies with all the victim families from across the country. He also said that J&K people have given befitting reply to the terrorists by exhibiting brotherhood and unity while condemning this heinous act.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that J&K people are short of words to denounce this cowardly act. He added that Kashmiris are known for hospitality and communal harmony across the country and globe. Ghulam Ahmad Mir, while condemning the attack, said that people from every walk of life and every corner of J&K showed that these kinds of acts are despicable. He added that we need to remain united in this difficult time and send a strong message across the world that we will not let these nefarious designs of terrorists succeed.

Sajad Gani Lone said that people from every area and section condemned this cowardly and brutal act. He added that acceptance of this kind of violence has been completely negated by the people of Kashmir valley. Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said such a heinous act cannot be explained in words saying that terrorists have no religion.

Altaf Ahmad Wani (Kaloo) strongly condemned the attack saying that Pahalgam is known as one of the peaceful areas of Kashmir. He said that after 25 years such an incident has happened in Pahalgam and words are less to condemn this brutal act. He added that people of Kashmir, especially Pahalgam, need to be appreciated for providing selfless services and care to the injured tourists and others. Muzaffar Iqbal Khan said no words are enough to condemn this cowardly act which has affected the whole humanity.

Waheed ur Rehman Parra said that this is a crime against humanity and not only a terrorist act. He added that people from all walks of Kashmir condemned it and showed that we are against terrorism through a series of peaceful rallies and candle light marches. He also sought martyr status for the victims of Pahalgam attack. Shabir Ahmad Kullay also condemned this inhuman act in strongest words and paid glowing tributes to the victims of Pahalgam attack.

Sheikh Khursheed, while paying homage to the victims, said that memorials for victims should be established in Pahalgam. He requested all the MLAs to contribute for this memorial out of their salaries. Mehraj Malik also condemned the gruesome attack and said that we need to be united and not let just four persons disturb the social fabric of our country. The house was later adjourned sine die by the Speaker.

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• ‘Not In My Name’: Every Kashmiri rejected terrorism out rightly: CM
• ‘No assembly or parliament can understand this grief better than ours’

JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today delivered an emotional and powerful address, expressing profound grief, condemning terrorism and calling for unity and resilience in wake of killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam terror attack.

The Chief Minister was speaking during a special session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly convened after the tragic Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed 26 innocent lives.

Beginning his speech, the Chief Minister reflected on the painful circumstances that brought the House together. “It is hard to believe that just a few days ago, we were engaged in vibrant debates in this very House — over the Budget and many other important matters. We had hoped that we would meet again in normal conditions. None of us could have imagined that we would be meeting in such tragic and painful circumstances ,” he said.

The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the Lieutenant Governor for convening the special session and emphasized the significance of the Assembly to understand the gravity of this tragic loss of innocents. “No other Parliament or Assembly can understand the pain of these 26 innocent lives lost, as much as this House does,” he stated.

Reflecting on the personal losses among legislators themselves, the Chief Minister recalled the sacrifices of members like Shagun Parihar, Sakina Itoo and Sajad Lone, and the horrors of the October 1, 2001, Assembly attack. He asserted that perhaps no Assembly can understand this grief better than theirs.

On behalf of the House, the Chief Minister strongly condemned the terrorist attack and expressed solidarity with the victims’ families. “This was not just an attack on people from one state — it was an attack on the very soul of India,” he declared.

He highlighted that the victims hailed from across India, from Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat, from Kerala to Jammu and Kashmir, symbolizing a national tragedy.

Omar Abdullah lamented that despite hopes that terrorism was a chapter of the past, the brutal attack marked the tragic return of terror involving death of so many civilians after 22 years. Remembering his own presence at the police control room to pay last respects, he spoke of the profound helplessness he felt facing the bereaved families. “What apology would ever suffice?” he asked.

The Chief Minister acknowledged that although security responsibilities no longer rested with the elected government, he, as Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism, bore responsibility for having invited the visitors and ensuring their safe return — a responsibility he felt he had failed to uphold.

Narrating the heart-wrenching words of a newly wed young woman who had lost her husband in the attack, the Chief Minister underscored the senselessness of the violence. “But who amongst us can ask for such violence? No one in this House or outside it, would ask for blood to be spilled ? No!” he stated emphatically.

Despite the deep wound inflicted by the attack, the Chief Minister identified a glimmer of hope: the spontaneous, widespread public condemnation of the attack across Jammu and Kashmir. From Kathua to Kupwara, ordinary citizens raised banners and placards reading “Not In My Name,” distancing themselves from terrorism without any political prompting.

“This attack was not done for us — it was done against us,” he stressed, adding that true and lasting peace would only be achieved when the people stand firmly with the forces of peace and governance.

He cited a significant moment of mourning at the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, where a two-minute silence was observed after Friday prayers — an act that, he said, carried profound meaning for every Kashmiri.

The Chief Minister also narrated stirring examples of humanity shown by ordinary Kashmiris like a ponywala risking his life to save tourists, a humble fruit seller on Dal Lake offering free meals to stranded visitors despite meagre earnings and taxi drivers, hoteliers, and boatmen opening their hearts and homes to guests.

These acts, he said, represented the true spirit of Kashmiri hospitality, even in the darkest of times.

Acknowledging the support extended by various state governments to Kashmiri students and residents outside J&K in view of harassment to them in the aftermath of Pahalgam attack, the Chief Minister announced efforts to strengthen response mechanism for quick response during emergencies in future so that Government acts immediately to ensure safety and security of students and others caught up in difficult situations. However, he warned sternly against the spread of false and fake information through news, noting that while most information shared is true, even a small percentage of misinformation can cause significant harm. “We will not tolerate it,” he asserted firmly.

Reiterating that security responsibilities in Jammu and Kashmir are not under the elected government, Omar Abdullah made it clear that he would not use the tragedy for political advantage. “I have too much respect for the sanctity of these 26 lives to indulge in petty politics. I will not exploit their martyrdom to raise demands for statehood or any other political gain today,” he declared.

He assured the Assembly that discussions around governance, rights, and aspirations would take place at an appropriate time, but today was a day solely for grief, solidarity and resolve.

Concluding his address, the Chief Minister called upon all Members to pass a unanimous resolution condemning the barbaric attack and expressing solidarity with the bereaved families.

The House later unanimously passed a resolution condemning the inhuman terror attack on tourists at Pahalgam.

The names of 26 persons who lost their lives were read out and made part of the obituary reference made by the Speaker.

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JAMMU: The 15th Rozgar Mela Tranche was organized by Govt. of India and  conducted by the CGST Department, Jammu at Convention Centre, Jammu on 26th April 2025 which was inaugurated by the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi through virtual medium. On this occasion, appointment letters were given to more than 51000 youth across India. This program was conducted by various departments at 47 centers including Jammu. CGST department was given the responsibility for conducting this program in Jammu.

In this programme the Chief Guests was Sh. Gyan Chand Jain,  CGST Commissioner, J&K and Ladakh and Guest of Honour was Sh. P.K. Bhatt, Commissioner, SGST, J&K and other dignitaries of Jammu Division were also present.  The appointment letters were distributed to  48 successful candidates from Dept of Post, DFS, EPFO, CBIC, SSB, PCDA, GSI, CBDT and Defence Estates department under the programme.

On this occasion, the Chief Guest Mr. Gyan Chand Jain Commissioner CGST, J&K and Ladakh  presented the importance of Rozgar Mela and also emphasized to share the information of different policies under taken by the govt. of India.