Pahalgam terror attack: Series of protests, prayers across Varanasi
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Varanasi: A series of protests were held against Tuesday's terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir in the city on Wednesday. Events were also organised to pray for peace of the souls of the tourists killed in the attack.
Kashi Vishwanath Dham hosted an Ati Rudra recital, while BJP postponed the Waqf Amendment awareness drive. Muslim institutions like Anjuman Intejamia Masajid, responsible for the Gyanvapi mosque management committee, and the Muslim Mahila Foundation also strongly condemned the massacre.
The Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust hosted an 'Ati Rudra Path', invoking the fierce form of Lord Shiva in anger and resolving to retaliate to strengthen the spirit of people against such horrific terrorist attacks. The organisers said the event aims to seek Lord Shiva's blessing to counter such incidents and to foster a spirit of aggressive retaliation free from internal conflicts.
Terming the Pahalgam attack a heinous crime, Anjuman Intejamia Masajid's joint secretary, SM Yasin, said, "Civilised society can never deem this crime forgivable. It is condemnable. Our sympathies are with the grieving families." The Vishal Bharat Sansthan and Muslim Women's Foundation jointly organised a protest march against the Pahalgam attack, culminating in a symbolic cremation of terrorists. Chanting slogans like 'Stop all aid to Pakistan' and 'Pakistan Murdabad', they called upon Muslim religious leaders to issue a Fatwa to expel terrorists and their families from Islam, announcing that no land will be provided for their burial. Women led by Najma Parveen took to the streets demanding action against Pakistan, and burning symbolic effigies of terrorists. They said that it was time for religious leaders to take a stand against these terrorists earning a bad name for Islam. The Bharatiya Janata Party had announced workshops on the Waqf Reform Awareness Campaign from Wednesday, however, it was postponed. BJP Kashi region president Dilip Singh Patel and spokesman Navratan Rathi said that the series of workshops scheduled to start on Wednesday from Babatpur was postponed in mourning for the tourists killed in the terror attack in Kashmir. Meanwhile, marches and the burning of effigies of terrorism by different groups, including lawyers, social and voluntary organisations, and others, were also evident in different areas.
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