Mohali-Former Health Minister and senior Congress leader Balbir Singh Sidhu led a solemn candlelight march in Mohali on Tuesday to honor the memory of the innocent tourists martyred in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The march, which began from Mohali’s Gurudwara Sri Amb Sahib, saw the participation of hundreds of Congress workers, youth leaders, and local residents.Speaking to the media during the march, Sidhu condemned the attack in the strongest terms. “The terrorist attack in Pahalgam is an extremely shameful, painful, and unacceptable act. It is a heinous crime against humanity,” he said.
Highlighting the grave lapse in security, Sidhu questioned the central government’s negligence. “More than 2,000 tourists were present at one tourist location in Pahalgam, yet no security arrangements were made. What’s even more shocking is that the police and army personnel arrived 20 minutes after the attack, exposing a serious failure of intelligence and response mechanisms,” he remarked.
Sidhu also criticized the government for a pattern of negligence, citing past incidents such as Uri, Pulwama, and now Pahalgam. “These are not isolated incidents. They signal a troubling trend of ignorance and inaction from the central government when it comes to national security,” he stated.
He also revisited the Centre’s 2019 decision to revoke Article 370, saying, “The Modi government had claimed that removing Article 370 would eliminate terrorism in Kashmir. Today’s reality shows that this claim has failed miserably, and innocent citizens continue to suffer.”
Calling for decisive action, Sidhu said, “This attack is not just on the people of Kashmir—it’s an attack on India’s unity, peace, and integrity. We urge the central government to give a strong and befitting reply to those behind this barbaric act, ensuring such tragedies are never repeated.”
Participants in the candlelight march held candles and placards, expressing solidarity with the victims and vowing continued resistance to terrorism. “We will not let the martyrs’ sacrifice go in vain. This fight against terrorism is not only a military struggle, it is a fight to protect human dignity and aspirations,” Sidhu emphasized.
Concluding the march, Sidhu affirmed the Congress party’s stance: “The Congress party has always stood, stands today, and will continue to stand for the protection of India’s integrity, Constitution, and democratic values. Our fight against terrorism will continue till end.”