BJP, SDPI hold separate silent marches in Bhatkal condemning Pahalgam terror attack

Bhatkal, 24 April,2025 (bhatkallys News Bureau) Karnataka: In a stand against terrorism, two political parties — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) — held separate silent candlelight marches in Bhatkal on Monday, April 22, condemning the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The attack, which occurred in the Anantnag district, claimed multiple lives and has sparked outrage across the country.

The BJP's silent march began at around 7:30 PM from the Circuit House. Members walked towards the town’s central Shamsuddin Circle, carrying candles and a banner that read, “Heartfelt tributes to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack at Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.” Upon reaching the circle, party leaders paid floral tributes at photographs of the victims and observed a moment of silence in their memory.

An hour later, at around 8:30 PM, members of the SDPI assembled in front of the historic Sultani Masjid. Holding candles and a banner that read, “Pahalgam attack, an onslaught on humanity,” they too marched silently to Shamsuddin Circle. After reaching the spot, the party held a brief gathering to express their condemnation of the attack.

Addressing the gathering, SDPI’s Uttara Kannada district president Taufiq Beary said that the attack was an assault on humanity. “Jammu and Kashmir is the crown of India. The terrorist attack in Pahalgam was not against any one religion or community — it was an attack on humanity itself,” he said. Beary stressed the importance of unity in the face of terrorism and called for political differences to be put aside at such times.

He further stated that terrorism has no religion and urged citizens not to view such acts through communal lenses. “A terrorist is simply the enemy of humanity,” he added. Beary also demanded that the government constitute a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice with the harshest possible punishment.