Maulana Muhammad Usman Rahmani Ludhianvi, the Shahi Imam of Punjab, strongly condemned Tuesday’s terrorist attack on tourists in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, calling it a “shameful act against humanity”. A protest was also held on Wednesday outside the historic Jama Masjid in Ludhiana in solidarity with the victims of the attack.
The Shahi Imam said, “Killing innocent people after asking their religion is an act of cowardice. He emphasised that the Holy Quran clearly states that killing even a single innocent person is equivalent to killing all of humanity. Those who claim to be Muslims and commit such terrorist acts can never be followers of Islam.”
He added, “This is not only a conspiracy to spread hatred between Muslims and Hindus across the country but also a heinous crime against unarmed tourists for which the culprits must be punished.” The Shahi Imam demanded that the perpetrators “should not only be investigated but also publicly hanged.”
Ludhianvi urged people to remain united as terrorism aims to break the unity and integrity of the nation. He said it was unfortunate that Pakistan has failed to become a good neighbour since its inception. He blamed it for continuously conspiring against India, noting that Pakistan is now suffering in a “fire of hatred”.
The Shahi Imam called on the Indian government to respond strongly to the attack and provide compensation of Rs 1 crore each to the families of those killed in the terrorist attack. He also demanded a thorough investigation to expose the conspiracy so that the atmosphere of harmony in Kashmir can be restored.
“Terrorism has no religion, and in such sensitive times, instead of engaging in politics, everyone should come together to fight the enemy and share the pain of the victims,” he said.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
