– Mohd.Naushad Khan
Mumbai— Almost 50 Maharashtra-based civil-society organisations, rallying under the banner “Constitution-Loving Citizens of India,” have petitioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi to order a special judicial investigation into last month’s terror strike in Pahalgam that left 27 tourists dead.
The memorandum, signed by noted activists Medha Patkar, documentary-film-maker Anand Patwardhan and other public figures, condemns the 22 April attack “in the strongest possible terms” and urges the Centre to pair tough anti-terror measures with initiatives that safeguard communal harmony.
While welcoming the “unanimous rejection of terrorism” voiced by political parties and citizens’ groups in Jammu & Kashmir, the signatories criticise the government’s crisis management, pointing in particular to the Prime Minister’s absence from any all-party meeting after the killings. That vacuum, they argue, deprived the nation of “a rare chance to stand together as one.”
Key demands
Special parliamentary session dedicated to framing a long-term, multi-agency counter-terror plan.
High-level judicial committee with powers of a commission of inquiry to examine operational and intelligence lapses that enabled the Pahalgam assault.
Swift action against individuals or organisations targeting minority communities in the aftermath.
Immediate restraints on broadcast and social-media content that spreads hate and communal distrust.
The coalition also announced that it will release its own report on security failures and survivor testimonies exactly one month after the tragedy. Should government efforts fall short, the groups warned, they are prepared to spearhead a nationwide peace campaign urging dialogue between India and Pakistan.
Reiterating the need for “transparent, inclusive” governance, the petition asks New Delhi to respond decisively yet responsibly: “Justice for the victims and safety for all Indians must go hand in hand with the preservation of our secular fabric,” it states.
