Union Home Minister Amit Shah condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and extended his full support to the families of the victims in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. On Friday (May 30), the Home Minister visited Poonch district to meet families affected by recent Pakistani shelling. Amit Shah also distributed appointment letters to the families of those affected by Pakistan's shelling during Operation Sindoor.
Here are some top quotes of Amit Shah-
- Pakistan carried out a highly condemnable and cowardly attack targeting residential and religious areas. Our innocent civilians were harmed. The government is arranging for employment appointments for the families of those affected. While a government job or compensation cannot replace the loss of a loved one, it symbolises the deep emotions and solidarity of the people and the government with the victims’ families.
- The entire nation stands with you like a rock.
- The bravery shown by the citizens and officials of Poonch, and the patriotism emerging from the people of Jammu and Kashmir, has become a source of strength for the entire country.
- A cowardly attack also took place in Pahalgam. As per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy, every terrorist act will be met with an equally strong and decisive response.
- Terrorist bases in Pakistan were destroyed. This strong retaliation was made possible due to the will of the Indian people, the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Modi, precise intelligence inputs, and the unmatched striking power of our armed forces. Hundreds of terrorists were neutralised. Pakistan claimed the strikes were an attack on them, but our action was targeted solely at terrorist camps.
- Not a single Indian Army post was hit, and no Pakistani civilian was harmed. We demolished only the terrorist hideouts. In contrast, Pakistan resorted to shelling in civilian areas, causing severe damage, especially in Poonch. They fired at gurdwaras and madrasas- acts that the international community has strongly condemned.
- In response, the Indian Army launched precise strikes on nine Pakistani air bases, forcing Pakistan to come forward for dialogue.
Home Minister affirmed the government’s commitment to providing comprehensive support and security for 'Amarnath Yatra' pilgrims, stating that all necessary arrangements will be made to ensure a safe and seamless pilgrimage. Chairing a high-level security review meeting on Thursday night (May 29) in Jammu, Shah directed security forces to remain on high alert and ensure the smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage.
“Chaired a review meeting for the Amarnath Pilgrimage and evaluated the security arrangements and preparedness meant for the pilgrims. Instructed to maintain utmost vigilance and ensure seamless completion of the sacred journey,” Shah posted on X.
Amit Shah meets affected families in Poonch
This was Amit Shah's third visit to Jammu and Kashmir since April 6 and first after the Indian armed forces struck terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) early May 7 in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead on April 22.
Shah interacted with shelling-hit families during his visit to Poonch today. He will also visit religious sites and interact with BSF personnel stationed in the area. Poonch witnessed the highest number of civilian deaths- 14 out of 28- during Pakistani shelling and drone attacks between May 7 and May 10.
After conducting a three-day tour on April 6, Shah again visited Kashmir on April 23, a day after the Pahalgam attack. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and senior officials from the army, police and paramilitary forces attended the review meeting last night.
Shah’s visit marks his first trip to Jammu and Kashmir following Operation Sindoor. Upon his arrival on Thursday evening, security across the region was tightened.
When Amarnath Yatra will commence, and what security steps are taken?
The annual Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to commence on July 3 (Thursday) and conclude on August 9 (Saturday). To bolster security for the Yatra, the Centre has ordered the deployment of 581 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), comprising approximately 42,000 personnel. Out of these, 424 companies will be directly deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, while others, including 80 companies previously assigned during Operation Sindoor, will be repositioned to secure the pilgrimage routes, key locations, and the city of Srinagar.
Amit Shah and the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir chaired a high-level review meeting in Jammu to assess preparations for the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. During the meeting, they issued the following directives-
- All agencies should enhance surveillance using drones and other modern technologies.
- All security agencies must operate on the principles of complete area domination and zero error.
- To ensure peace and stability in the region, there must be heightened vigilance, real-time intelligence sharing, and seamless coordination among all security agencies.
