Three of the victims – Sanjay Lele, Hemant Joshi, and Atul Mone – were from Dombivli in Thane, which is also Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik's home district
Maharashtra Minister Ganesh Naik reaffirmed that all of India’s military forces had been put on high alert and that the country was prepared to take decisive action. File Pic
Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik on Friday night stated that India will take firm action in retaliation for the "cowardly" terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people, the majority of whom were tourists from other states.
Three of the victims – Sanjay Lele, Hemant Joshi, and Atul Mone – were from Dombivli in Thane, which is also Naik's home district.
"This was not merely an attack on tourists, but a direct assault on the very soul of our nation," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister said, warning that India would not remain silent in the face of such violence.
Naik visited the families of Lele, Joshi, and Mone to offer his condolences and support, news agency PTI reported.
काश्मीर मधील पहलगाम येथे झालेल्या भ्याड दहशतवादी हल्ल्यामध्ये डोंबिवली येथील स्व. अतुलजी मोने, स्व. संजयजी लेले व स्व. हेमंत जी जोशी यांच्या कुटुंबीयांची सांत्वन पर भेट घेऊन संवेदना व्यक्त केली. या हल्ल्यामध्ये ज्यांनी आपले प्राण गमावले त्यांच्या कुटुंबियांसाठी हा अत्यंत कठीण काळ…
— Ganesh Naik (@NaikSpeaks) April 25, 2025
Speaking to the media later, Naik reaffirmed that all of India’s military forces had been put on high alert and that the country was prepared to take decisive action.
"Unless Pakistan is made to pay for this cowardly act, the nation and its people will not find peace," the minister said, adding, "This is not an ordinary incident... it marks a turning point."
Describing the Pahalgam terror attack as a grave assault not only on innocent lives but on the spirit of the nation, Naik assured that India’s leadership would ensure the perpetrators faced justice.
"The people of India are united against terrorism. This unity is our strength, and the message is clear – we will not let this go unanswered," he stated.
The BJP leader also condemned the alleged communal motive behind Pahalgam terror attack, which saw terrorists specifically target victims based on their religion.
"There is no place for politics here. The terrorists murdered innocent people. The nation must respond not with division, but with unity," Naik emphasised.
He also expressed confidence that the collective anger and grief of the Indian people would translate into determined national action.
"This wave of solidarity from across the country will ensure that such evil forces are held accountable. The people of this nation have spoken with one voice, and that voice demands justice," said Naik.
(With PTI inputs)
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