Pahalgam terror strike ‘attack on nation’, says Sharad Pawar; backs Congress call for special Parliament session, govt steps

NEW DELHI: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday extended support to the Congress' demand for a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, saying it would send a strong message of national unity.
Speaking at a press conference after attending the consecration ceremony at the 'Tulja Bhavani' temple, Pawar described the killing of tourists in Kashmir as an attack on the country and said he would back the Centre in all its efforts to deal with the situation.

"Some of our colleagues have made the demand (for a special session of Parliament). The entire country is united on this issue. All parties and Parliament are united. A special session (on Pahalgam) would be useful to send this message to the world," Pawar said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack and demonstrate a collective resolve.
"We will give complete support to whatever steps Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his colleagues take," said the former defence minister, adding that religion, caste, and language should not be brought into such matters.
Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed and several others injured when terrorists opened fire at a meadow near the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on April 22.
Responding to a question about the possibility of a reconciliation between Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj Thackeray, who heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Pawar said, "If it happens, it's for the good. When two families come together, it is always a positive development."
Asked whether he attends only selected religious functions, Pawar dismissed the notion as a "half-truth".
"When I was the chief minister of Maharashtra, I had performed 'pooja' at the Pandharpur temple multiple times and also visited the Tulja Bhavani temple in Tuljapur several times," he added.