Congress Hosts Prayer Meeting for Victims of Reasi Terror Attack in UP

In a solemn gathering at Shahid Smarak, the Congress party hosted a prayer meeting on Monday to honor the memory of the pilgrims who tragically lost their lives in a terrorist assault on a passenger bus in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai, while paying homage to the victims, expressed that words fall short to condemn the heinous act perpetrated by terrorists. The attack, which occurred as the bus, carrying 53 passengers from the Shiv Khori temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, was ambushed by terrorists. This led to the vehicle veering off the road and plummeting into a deep gorge near Teryath village in the Poni area of Reasi on Sunday, resulting in nine fatalities and 41 injuries.

Rai criticized the Central government's efforts in securing peace in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the incident as evidence of the region's deteriorating safety. He accused the Narendra Modi government of self-congratulation while failing to address the escalating threat of terrorism in the area. According to Rai, despite claims of terrorism being eradicated from Jammu and Kashmir, terrorist incidents have surged over the past decade, now affecting even the Jammu division.

The prayer meeting saw Congress leaders and attendees lighting candles in tribute to those who perished in the attack. They also extended their prayers for a swift recovery for those injured. Manish Hindvi, a spokesperson for Uttar Pradesh Congress, noted that numerous senior leaders from the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee were present at the event, underscoring the party's solidarity with the victims and their families during this difficult time.

The incident has sparked a wave of criticism towards the current administration's handling of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, with Rai's statements reflecting a broader concern over security and peace in the region. The Congress party's prayer meeting served not only as a memorial for those lost but also as a platform for voicing grievances against perceived governmental complacency in combating terrorism.