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Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘We were waiting for this day': Family members of Pahalgam terror attack victims welcome Operation Sindoor
THANE: The family members of the three Dombivli residents who died in the Pahalgam terrorist attack welcomed the India's 'precision strike' on Wednesday targeting nine 'terrorist infrastructure' sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, while urging the central government to continue the military action till Pakistan-based terror modules were completely dismantled. Kalyan, India - May 07 2025 : Pic Family members of Pahalgam terror attack victims express solidarity and relief after India's Operation Sindoor strike on terror camps; Dombivli locals distribute sweets to celebrate the military action. Pic on Wednesday in India on 07 2025 - Story By Anamika Gharat ( Photo By Pramod Tambe) 'We were eagerly waiting for this day,' said Harshal Lele, son of Sanjay Lele, one of the 26 Indian and Nepali civilians, mostly tourists, who were killed in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22 by what India claimed were Pakistan-backed terrorists. 'I couldn't sleep yesterday after getting to know that the Indian armed forces had attacked terror camps and kept on watching live feeds of the action on news channels,' he added. Lele said that he and others in his family knew that it was just a matter of time before the Indian government took some action against the terrorists. 'We felt a sense of peace and justice, but this was just one strike. India must continue such operations until terrorism is completely eradicated,' he said, while remembering how armed terrorists brutally killed tourists in Pahalgam, showing no mercy. Hemant Joshi and Atul Mone, the two other Dombivli residents killed in the terror attack, were also Sanjay Lele's relatives. Their family members said that the military strike by the Indian armed forces brought a sense of closure to them and offered true homage to their deceased loved ones. Jayant Bhave, a relative of the three deceased, said that he too was waiting for a firm response by the Indian government, just like other members of his family. 'When we learned about 'Operation Sindoor' at 3 am, we felt a wave of satisfaction. We are proud of the Indian Army and the government for this decisive action. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised a strong response, and the families trusted the government would stand by its word. India has shown our enemies that such acts will not go unanswered. We are confident this is just the beginning of a bigger crackdown on terror,' he added. Anushka Mone, wife of Atul Mone, also voiced her support for the military operation. 'This strike was not just a reply to the attack on tourists. It was a reply to the attack on India itself. Now is not the time for politics. The government and army deserve full support. Although no action can bring our loved ones back, the army has delivered justice. We are certain India will not rest until the terror network is completely dismantled,' she said. Local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena leaders also hailed the strike, while residents joined in by distributing sweets on the streets in Dombivli and other urban areas of Thane district. The joy was visible across the area, as shopkeepers, rickshaw drivers and other citizens all expressed pride and relief over the military action. India described the strikes, conducted between 1.05 am and 1.30 am on Wednesday, as 'focused, measured, and non-escalatory,' avoiding Pakistani military facilities and civilian casualties. However, Pakistan claimed later in the day that 26 civilians, including women and children, were killed and 46 others were injured in the strikes. Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed said in a statement that 10 family members and four aides of its founder, Masood Azhar, were killed in the attack.
NDTV
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Take Solid Step Now": Javed Akhtar To Centre Over Pahalgam Attack
Mumbai: Lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar urged the central government to take strict action against Pakistan for their alleged connections to the recent inhumane terror attack on innocent civilians in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Javed Akhtar was invited to inaugurate the 'Glorious Maharashtra Festival', which was organised to commemorate Maharashtra's foundation day on Thursday. While addressing the politicians and other attendees at the Maharashtra Festival 2025, the Lyricist Javed Akhtar requested the Central Government to take "solid steps" against terrorism, as he believes that "a few crackers on the border" are still not enough for the lives lost in Pahalgam. "This has happened not just once but several times. I request that the Central Government take immediate steps. A few crackers on the border will not work. Take a solid step now. Do something so that the mad Army chief there (Pakistan), no sensible person can make a speech like he does. He says that Hindus and Muslims are different communities. He does not even care that there are Hindus in his country, too. So, do they have no respect? What kind of man is he? They should get a befitting reply so that they remember. They will not pay heed to anything less. I don't know much about politics. But I do know that it is time for ' aar ya paar," said Javed Akhtar. The noted screenwriter also remembered three tourists from Mumbai who lost their lives in a terror attack in Pahalgam. "Sanjay Lele, Atul Mone & Hemant Joshi from this state were looking for a moment of peace and happiness. Perhaps they should not have done that. In search of that, they visited Pahalgam. They were mercilessly shot there. We should not forget this. This is nothing ordinary. Enemies and those who wish us evil have their eyes on Mumbai," said Javed Akhtar. The co-writer of the 'Sholay' script shared an incident from his past, recounting a visit to Pakistan for a literary festival. "I went to Lahore for a literary festival. They were asking me good questions and I was answering. A woman got up and told me that Indians consider them (Pakistanis) terrorists. I told her that I am a resident of Mumbai and I have seen my city burning. Those who came to burn it did not come from Sweden or Egypt; those people are roaming freely in your city even today," shared Javed Akhtar. The lyricist also shared that India has always sought peace with Pakistan, but the neighbouring nation has refused to reciprocate. "What happened in Pahalgam is something which keeps happening after a few days. It is sad. What has Mumbai or this country done to you? Be it the Congress Government or the BJP, it always tried to have good relations with the neighbours," added lyricist Javed Akhtar. Twenty-six people were killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Javed Akhtar demands strong action against Pakistan over the Pahalgam attack: "Crackers on the border won't work, it is time for ‘aar ya paar"
Renowned lyricist and screenwriter has strongly urged the central government to take decisive action against Pakistan following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, including three tourists from Mumbai. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'A few crackers on the border will not work' Speaking at the Glorious Maharashtra Festival 2025 in Mumbai on Maharashtra Day, Akhtar condemned the attack and criticized the Pakistani military leadership for promoting divisive ideology. In a hard-hitting speech, he said, 'A few crackers on the border will not work. Take a solid step now. Do something so that the mad army chief there (Pakistan), no sensible person can make a speech like he does.' Remembers victims from Maharashtra— They were mercilessly shot there. Javed Akhtar paid tribute to the victims from Mumbai — Sanjay Lele, Atul Mone, and Hemant Joshi — who were among those killed in the Pahalgam attack . Expressing grief and anger, he said, 'Sanjay Lele, Atul Mone & Hemant Joshi from this state were looking for a moment of peace and happiness... They were mercilessly shot there. We should not forget this.' He emphasized that this was not an isolated incident and that Mumbai, too, remains a key target for forces intending harm. 'I have seen my city burning' Recounting an earlier visit to Pakistan for a literary festival, Javed Akhtar shared how he was confronted about India's perception of Pakistanis. He responded sharply, saying, 'I am a resident of Mumbai, and I have seen my city burning. Those who came to burn it did not come from Sweden or Egypt; those people are roaming freely in your city even today.' Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'We Are Pleasing Pak Army...' Says Javed Akhtar On Banning Pak Artists In India | Pahalgam Attack Javed Akhtar lamented that India has always extended a hand of peace to Pakistan, regardless of the government in power, but the response has repeatedly been hostile and violent. 'What has Mumbai or this country done to you?' he asked. Calls for Decisive Measures—'Aar ya paar'' Wrapping up his address with an emotional appeal, Javed Akhtar demanded a firm response from the Indian government, saying, 'I don't know much about politics. But I do know that it is time for 'aar ya paar.''
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First Post
25-04-2025
- Politics
- First Post
‘They are terrorists not militants': Has the Western media whitewashed the Pahalgam attack?
Twenty-six innocent civilians were shot dead by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. However, some Western media outlets such as the New York Times, BBC and others chose to downplay the severity of the attack by terming the perpetrators as 'gunmen' and 'militants'. Why has it triggered so much outrage? read more Family members of Sanjay Lele, who was killed in the terror attack near Pahalgam, mourn his death before his funeral in Dombivli, Thane district of Maharashtra. Reuters Was the Pahalgam attack on April 22, claiming the lives of 26 people, perpetrated by terrorists or by militants? The answer is terrorists. But that's not the case for many Western media outlets who have reported on the tragedy, who have called the perpetrators gunmen or militants. The issue of terrorism vs militant became even more prominent in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack when a House Committee in the US pulled up the New York Times for its reportage. Moreover, the Hindu American Foundation, a non-profit advocacy organisation for the Hindu American community, also issued a scathing criticism of Western media's reporting on the incident, calling it a 'shameful and deliberate erasure'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the country grapples with the aftermath of the terror attack, we take a deep dive into this matter and try to answer the question: Is the western media whitewashing the Pahalgam terror attack? Pahalgam attack reported by Western media In the hours after terrorists emerged from the pine tree forests and swooped down on unsuspecting tourists in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, killing 26 of them, all media outlets from across the world carried the report. However, several of the Western media outlets didn't call the perpetrators terrorists but rather termed them as gunmen or militants. For instance, the BBC referred to the attackers as 'gunmen'. Its headline read: 'More than 20 killed after gunmen open fire on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.' A screenshot of BBC's coverage of the Pahalgam terror attack. Noted news agencies Reuters and Associated Press also chose similar language. Reuters chose to describe the perpetrators merely as 'suspected militants', while AP called them 'militants'. The Guardian downplayed the Kashmir terror attack by repeatedly labeling the perpetrators as a 'group of gunmen' and 'suspected militants' instead of terrorists, avoiding clear condemnation. It also emphasised the scenic setting, quoted survivors in distress, and focused on the emotional aftermath rather than ideological motives or the extremist nature of the attack. The reporting wasn't much different in the Washington Post. It described the attackers as 'gunmen' and 'suspected militants'. Similarly, the New York Times avoided naming the perpetrators, and used language like 'gunmen began firing'. Sky News in the United Kingdom also reported the attack, but inserted quote marks on 'terror attack', questioning the severity of the tragedy. And Turkey's TRT headlined their report as 'Multiple tourists killed in shooting incident'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A shoe of a child lies at the site of the terror attack on tourists in Baisaran near Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag. Reuters Western media slammed for reportage However, many have called out these outlets for their unabashed distortion of events. For instance, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United States government publicly called out the New York Times on social media. It rebuked the American media outlet for its use of words in a post on X. Sharing an image of the original headline — 'At Least 24 Tourists Gunned Down by Militants in Kashmir' — it struck off the word militants and replaced it with 'terrorists' in bold red colour. It wrote, 'Hey, @nytimes we fixed it for you. This was a TERRORIST ATTACK plain and simple. Whether it's India or Israel, when it comes to TERRORISM the NYT is removed from reality,' the committee wrote, calling out what it sees as a pattern of minimising terror acts through diluted terminology. Hey, @nytimes we fixed it for you. This was a TERRORIST ATTACK plain and simple. Whether it's India or Israel, when it comes to TERRORISM the NYT is removed from reality. — House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority (@HouseForeignGOP) April 23, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moreover, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) slammed the Western media for its reportage. Suhag Shukla, executive director of the organisation, said, 'Let's get this straight. Terrorists from the Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot, took credit for storming a meadow in Pahalgam and murdering at least 26 tourists, seeking out Hindus with chilling precision, in the worst civilian massacre in Kashmir since 2008.' Shukla said that the nature of the attack left no ambiguity, and argued that these outlets had diluted or distorted the framing. On April 22, 2025, the worst civilian terror attack in Kashmir since 2008 unfolded in broad daylight. 26 Hindu tourists were singled out and executed by terrorists. The Resistance Front—a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy backed by Pakistan has taken credit for the horrific attack. But if… — Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) April 23, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She added, 'Across the board, you'll see patronising sneer quotes around 'terror attack' and sanitised references to the killers as militants,' she said. 'Some even have the gall to call them rebels. For the record: a rebel fights authority, a militant targets the state, and a terrorist deliberately targets and kills civilians to spread fear for ideological or religious aims.' Protesters hold placards during a protest march towards the Pakistan High Commission condemning the Pahalgam tourist attack, in New Delhi. AFP Difference between terrorist and militant But many must be wondering if there is actually a difference between the words terrorist and militant. While it is often used interchangeably, experts note there is a stark difference. The India's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, defines a terrorist as 'whoever does any act with intent to threaten or likely to threaten the unity, integrity, security, [economic security,] or sovereignty of India or with intent to strike terror or likely to strike terror in the people or any section of the people in India or in any foreign country'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Writing for Encyclopaedia Britannica, John Philip Jenkins calls terrorism 'the calculated use of violence to create a general climate of fear in a population and thereby to bring about a particular political objective.' According to the US Federal Bureau of Invetigation (FBI), terrorism refers to 'violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.' On the other hand, militancy or militants usually refers to an armed rebellion from within a State in order to achieve a political or social outcome. As Firstpost's Managing Editor Palki Sharma explained in a X post earlier, 'Calling a terrorist a militant, is like calling a heart attack — a chest pain. Technically you're not wrong, but there's a world of difference between the two. You're downplaying their threat and insulting their victims.' Past instances of Western media's double standards But this isn't the first time when Western media has carried a double standard against India. For instance, most of these outlets report Russia's moves in Ukraine as 'an invasion'. However, the same media reports Kashmir as a 'dispute' and not Pakistan's invasion of Indian territory. If that's not enough proof, then look back at the reportage when Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar died in Canada. While Nijjar was labelled as a terrorist in India, the Washington Post referred to him as a 'Canadian citizen'. The BBC called him a 'Sikh separatist activist', while AP called him a 'Sikh independence advocate'. A CNN article described Nijjar as 'a prominent Sikh leader in western Canada'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the time, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor hit out at the BBC analysis titled 'Hardeep Singh Nijjar: Why Western nations fear India-Canada row, saying hat Western media was 'so quick to judge other countries, so blind to their own'. I never cease to be amazed by the blinkers regularly put on by Western media. They are so quick to judge other countries, so blind to their own! This @BBC analysis says, "Western nations have condemned alleged extraterritorial assassinations carried out by countries such as… — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 20, 2023 He also highlighted the BBC report, which said: 'In the past, Western nations have condemned alleged extraterritorial assassinations carried out by countries such as Russia or Iran or Saudi Arabia. They will not want India to join that list.' To this, Tharoor retorted, 'Hello? The two foremost practitioners of extra-territorial assassinations in the last 25 years have been Israel and the US! Any mirrors available in the West?' The same is the case for Sikhs for Justice chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. He's a designated terrorist in India but TIME magazine in an interview with him, described him as 'a New York-based lawyer and general counsel for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a group founded in the U.S. in 2007 that calls for an independent Sikh homeland called 'Khalistan' in the northwestern Indian state of Punjab'. With inputs from agencies
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Six tourists from Mumbai, Pune killed in Pahalgam terror attack
Mumbai: At least six people from Maharashtra were killed while five others got injured in the Tuesday's terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. 'After the firing started, we ran along with other tourists,' recalled Asavari Jagdale, a 26-year-old human resource professional from Pune, who lost her father and uncle in the attack. A group of five --- Asavari, father Santosh Jagdale, mother Pragati, Kaustubh Ganbote and Sangita Ganbote --- had just begun their Kashmir trip from Pahalgam when the terrorists opened fire. Santosh and Kaustubh sustained bullet injuries and were among the six people declared dead late Tuesday. 'There were several tourists around, but the terrorists specifically targetted males after asking whether they were Hindus or Muslims. They then asked my father to recite an Islamic verse. When he failed to do so, they pumped three bullets. Later, the Indian Army reached the spot and rescued us,' Asavar recalled. The six deceased also include four residents of Mumbai Metropolitan Region --- Atul Mone (43), Hemant Joshi (45), Sanjay Lele (50) and Dilip Disale. 'Total three tourists from Dombivli --- Atul Mone (43), Hemant Joshi (45), Sanjay Lele (50) --- lost their life in Pahalgam attack. Rest six family members are safe which includes Anushka Mone, Rucha Mone, Monika Joshi, Dhruv Joshi, Kavita Lele and Harshal Lele,' district administration of Thane said. Atul, a senior section engineer in the Central Railway, had gone to Kashmir with his wife and 18-year-old daughter. 'They showed Atul Mone's name in the list of those killed in Jammu and Kashmir. We were shocked. My special, brotherly friend has been killed in this mindless attack,' Mahesh Surse, a close friend of Atul for 25 years, said. Surse, who lives in the same building as Mone, had planned to visit Kashmir with his family on May 22, but has now cancelled the trip. Sanjay Lele, who was working in a pharma company in Mumbai, had travelled wife and son. 'Sanjay Lele is my brother-in-law. His son, Harshal's finger was grazed by a bullet. The rest of the family is safe. We are leaving there by the morning flight,' Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) sub-district chief Rajesh Kadam said. The state government has coordinated with central government for arrangements of the special flights to bring back mortal remains of six tourists died in the terror attack and evacuate stranded tourists from Srinagar. 'The mortal remains of Sanjay Lele and Dilip Disale will be brought to Mumbai via an Air India flight from Srinagar. This flight will depart Srinagar at 12:15 PM. The mortal remains of Kaustubh Ganwate and Santosh Jagdale from Pune will depart at 6 PM and will be brought to Pune. The mortal remains of Hemant Joshi and Atul Mone will be flown from Srinagar at 1:15 PM and will reach Mumbai,' statement issued by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's office read. According to data available with the state government, the authenticity of it is yet to be verified, over 500 tourists from Maharashtra are stranded in parts of Jammu & Kashmir. Bodies of the deceased, accompanied by relatives, will be flown to Mumbai later on Wednesday. 'We have arranged special flights to bring back stranded tourists from Maharashtra. The first flight to Mumbai will depart at 3pm. The second flight to Pune will take off either this evening or tomorrow morning. The death toll of tourists from Maharashtra stands at six, and their bodies will be brought to Mumbai and Pune by special flights today,' minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol said. The mortal remains of two tourists from Pune are likely to be brought back to Pune by Wednesday evening, said Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan, who is leaving for Srinagar at 2pm to help in bringing back all the stranded tourists back to the state.
