“The Forgotten Courage of Kashmiris and the Politics of Silence in Parliament”
The recent discussion in Parliament on the gruesome incident of killings of innocent tourists in Baisaran Valley of Phalgam: the people of Kashmir—the very first responders, helpers, and mourners—were nearly erased from the narrative. On a serene summer evening on 22 April,2025, terrorists opened fire on a group of Indian tourists near Pahalgam in South Kashmir—an area previously considered relatively stable. This cowardly ambush led to the killing of 26 innocent civilians, including a young naval officer on his honeymoon, and injured many others. Survivors recalled being asked their names and religion before the bullets were fired—an act that clearly indicated communal targeting.
Operation SINDOOR, initiated on May 7, 2025, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians showcased a calibrated, tri-services response that embodied precision, professionalism, and purpose. Operation SINDOOR was conceived as a punitive and targeted campaign to dismantle the terror infrastructure across the Line of Control and deeper inside Pakistan, as per PIB report.
This horrific massacre was followed by the Indian Army's launch of Operation Sindoor, a large-scale counterterrorism campaign to avenge the killings and neutralize the perpetrators. The operation, coordinated with intelligence agencies, aimed at flushing out the militant groups responsible for the Pahalgam attack and dismantling terror networks believed to be operating in Pakistan.
While Operation Sindoor represented a show of military resolve, the official civilian response was riddled with selective outrage and administrative failure. Questions remained: Why was there no security cover for tourists in a high-risk zone? Why were preventive measures missing despite intelligence warnings?
“I want justice for all the innocent people who were killed there. There was no facility… no security of the army or police. In a VIP convoy, you have so much security cover, and even helicopters fly over your head. Where do you get that money?” —Sheetal, the wife of Shalaish Kalathiya , a banker from Gujtat’s Suart who was killed in the Pahalgam attack.
Her question resonates with a wider frustration: why were civilians left unprotected, despite heightened intelligence alerts in a region that remains under tight military watch?
Erased from the Record: The Silence on Kashmiri Solidarity
When the bullets stopped, it wasn’t armed forces or government officials who arrived first—it was the locals of Kashmir. They were the first to rush victims to hospitals, donate blood, and offer emotional and logistical support. The story of Adil Shah, a humble pony operator, stands out as a symbol of secular courage. In a desperate attempt to save the lives of tourists, Shah tried to snatch a gun from one of the terrorists and was killed on the spot.
Adil Shah’s sacrifice is not just an act of bravery—it is a testament to the secular and humane spirit that still pulses in the veins of the common Kashmiri. His story alone debunks the communal stereotypes often cast upon the valley and its people.
Yet, this extraordinary act of heroism did not find a mention in Parliament. Neither treasury benches nor major opposition leaders highlighted it.
Ignored Voices in the House: Aga Ruhullah Mehdi and Engineer Rashid
The MPs of Kashmir were dismayed and surprised that no political leader either from treasury benches or opposition failed to underline and to appreciate the role and help rendered by the Kashmiris to the victims. Not only they come forward to help the victims but vehemently oppose the terrorists attack on the innocent tourists and pulled down the shutters of their shops and business establishments and; organized protests against the killings, perhaps for the first time after 1989, when the terrorism raised its head in Kashmir. The only significant intervention came from J&K MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, who candidly stated:
“This is terrorism against which we have been fighting for the last 40 years and giving our blood. Unfortunately, this terrorism has still not stopped. Words are not enough to condemn yesterday's violence." — Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, Budgam District
He questioned the legality and fairness of post-attack demolitions of homes suspected to be linked with militants—often without evidence or due process. These demolitions resemble a policy of retribution, not justice.
Engineer Rashid, a recently elected MP from Kashmir, voiced his deep disappointment with Parliament’s selective empathy. He raised the targeted assaults on Kashmiris in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and other parts of India following the attack:
"I am charged ₹1.5 lakh every day to sit in this House, but what is the point when the House doesn’t care to speak for those whose homes are being razed, whose children are being jailed, whose businesses are being destroyed just because they are Kashmiris."
His remarks served as a much-needed reminder of the double trauma faced by Kashmiris—first as victims of terrorism, then as scapegoats of national rage.
The Case of Himanshi Narwal: Trolling a Widow
Amidst the grief, Himanshi Narwal, the widow of slain Navy officer Vinay Narwal, became a reluctant face of the tragedy. The young couple was married for less than a week when their honeymoon ended in bloodshed.
When Himanshi bravely appealed to the public not to target Muslims or Kashmiris, she was immediately met with online abuse and hate campaigns. Her words—intended to calm communal flames—were twisted as political betrayal.
Her case represents a dangerous precedent: victims who refuse to hate are now seen as traitors. It is a tragic sign of how polarised our national grief has become.
Article 370: A Symbolic Abrogation With Real Costs
Much political capital continues to be built around the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. But even prior to its repeal, the provision had been hollowed out by successive Presidential Orders. The final abrogation was less about governance and more about electoral optics and centralized control.
In the five years since, the people of Jammu and Kashmir remain without an elected government. Instead of a Chief Minister, the region is governed by a Lieutenant Governor (LG) who reports directly to the Union Home Ministry. The LG, unlike a democratically elected leader, has no organic connection with the people on the ground.
Former CM Omar Abdullah was recently prevented by police from offering prayers at the 1931 Martyrs’ Graveyard, an act symbolic of how far the region has been pushed away from democratic norms.
The BJP’s Contradictions: Claiming Peace, Avoiding Elections
The BJP has repeatedly claimed that normalcy has returned to Kashmir post-Article 370. However, during the 2024 general elections, the party did not field a single candidate from the Valley. If the situation is indeed so normal, why avoid the electoral test?
This contradiction exposes the façade of stability—security may have increased, but trust and representation have diminished.
Kashmir Today: Mass Arrests and Demolitions
The aftermath of Operation Sindoor has seen a harsh crackdown. At least 2,000 Kashmiri youth have been arrested, and 13 homes demolished on suspicion of harboring terrorists. These actions, often carried out without legal oversight, have further alienated the local population.
The policy of punishing families and neighborhoods for the actions of a few is not counterterrorism—it is collective punishment, and it fuels long-term resentment.
Conclusion: A Nation Must Remember All Its Citizens
The discussion in Parliament could have been a turning point—an opportunity to acknowledge the bravery of Adil Shah, the compassion of Kashmiri civilians, the wisdom of Himanshi Narwal, and the grief of a region long scarred by violence.
Instead, it became another stage for partisan blame games and communal omissions.
If India is to truly embrace Kashmir, we must honour its people—not just mourn its tragedies. We must listen to its voices, accept its complexities, and trust its citizens. Patriotism is not loud sloganeering—it is quiet courage, and in Kashmir, that courage still breathes in men like Adil Shah and women like Himanshi Narwal.
References:
1. Deccan Herald (2024): “People of J&K united against terror, it is our blood that has been spilled: NC MP Mehdi”
2. NDTV, The Hindu, Scroll.in (2025): Reports on Pahalgam attack and survivors’ testimonies
3. Lok Sabha Debates, July 2025: Statements of Aga Ruhullah Mehdi and Engineer Rashid
4. Indian Express: Trolling of Himanshi Narwal
5. BBC India: Profile of victims and survivors of Operation Sindoor
6. Observer Research Foundation: Article 370 analysis and administrative changes post-2019
7. Human Rights Forum (J&K): Report on arrests and demolitions in Kashmir after Pahalgam attack
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