Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 30: Union Home Minister Amit Shah delivered a powerful address in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, pledging to root out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir while issuing a scathing rebuke to the Congress party for putting “politics above national interest.”

Participating in the debate on Operation Sindoor, Shah recounted the horrific Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, in which 26 innocent tourists were killed by Pakistani terrorists. The tragedy, he said, remains etched in his memory.

“I vividly remember the faces of those shattered families. I met a woman who had been widowed just six days after her marriage, and others who saw their loved ones gunned down before their eyes,” said Shah, visibly emotional. “Those moments of pain will never leave me.”

Shah emphasized that the Modi government is unwavering in its mission to eliminate terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir and bring enduring peace to the region.

Sending a direct message to terrorist groups and their handlers across the border, the Home Minister reiterated: “This government will not rest until Jammu and Kashmir is completely free from the shadow of terror.”

Turning his attention to critics, Shah condemned the Congress party for questioning the timing of “Operation Mahadev,” which eliminated the perpetrators of the Pahalgam massacre just as Parliament began debating Operation Sindoor.

“Some are suggesting the encounter’s timing was political,” Shah said. “This is not just shameful but exposes their mindset. Their instinct is not to stand with the nation but to undermine our forces and score political points.”

He accused the Congress of consistently putting electoral gains above the country’s security concerns.

Shah also informed the House that the Union Cabinet acted swiftly after the Pahalgam killings — not only to hunt down those responsible but also to impose diplomatic and strategic costs on Pakistan for aiding and abetting terrorism.

“This is a government that delivers justice — swiftly and decisively,” he said. “Our priority is clear: national security comes first.”

With the Pahalgam victims fresh in the nation’s memory and Parliament engaged in a fierce debate on India’s counter-terror strategies, Shah’s speech sought to reinforce the Centre’s commitment to a peaceful and united Jammu and Kashmir — and to send a clear signal that terror will not go unanswered.