In a deeply emotional response to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead, including a young businessman from Kanpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cancelled his scheduled visit to the city. Narendra Modi was slated to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 20,000 crore on April 24, but the tragic events in Jammu and Kashmir have prompted a change in plans, underscoring the gravity of the national crisis.
Victim from Kanpur among the deceased
One of the victims of the Baisaran attack in the Anantnag district was Shubham, a resident of Kanpur who was visiting Kashmir on a family holiday. Shubham, who ran a cement-related business, had travelled to Kashmir with his wife and nine other family members. The group, which had visited Sonamarg and Gulmarg earlier in the week, was targeted by terrorists while in Pahalgam. Shubham’s death has brought the tragedy closer to home for the people of Kanpur, deepening the emotional impact of the attack nationwide.
PM to attend alternate programme in Madhubani
On the same day he was to be in Kanpur, the Prime Minister will now attend an official programme in Madhubani, Bihar, to mark Panchayati Raj Diwas. This event will also include virtual participation from citizens across the country. Meanwhile, Narendra Modi’s response to the terror attack has been swift and serious. After cutting short his visit to Saudi Arabia, he arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday morning and was immediately briefed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at the Delhi airport.
Later in the day, the Prime Minister is scheduled to chair a crucial meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to discuss further actions in the wake of the incident. During his Saudi visit, Narendra Modi had also skipped official engagements, including a state dinner, to prioritise his return. Both he and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had jointly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, reinforcing bilateral support against terrorism while co-chairing the Strategic Partnership Council.
