Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday said blood of every Indian is boiling looking at pictures of the Pahalgam attack killing 26 people and cautioned that Kashmir saw progress but terrorists want to destroy it. He assured the nation that perpetrators of this act will definitely be brought to justice.

Making this assertion in his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, he also said terrorists and conspirators behind the killings of 26 civilians will be served the harshest punishment.

Blood of every Indian is boiling by looking at the pictures of the attack, he said.

It is the second time in the last few days Prime Minister Modi spoke about the dastardly act. On Thursday last, he sent out a fierce message that perpetrators will be pursued “to the end of the earth” and promised to “identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers”.

Addressing a public rally in Madhubani, Bihar, Modi also vowed the terrorists and conspirators behind the attack will get a punishment beyond their imagination.

In his addressing in the public rally, Modi suddenly switched from Hindi to English to reiterate his message. It was an apparent move to address the global community about India’s intentions and resolve to bring the killers of Pahalgam to justice. Modi said in English, “Friends, today from the soil of Bihar, I say to the whole world India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the earth. India’s spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished.”

In the stern message, he said, “Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. The entire nation is firm in this resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us. I thank the people of various countries and their leaders who have stood with us in these times.”

On Sunday, Modi also said the country’s unity and solidarity of its 140 crore citizens is its biggest strength in this war against terrorism. “This unity is the basis of our decisive fight against terrorism,” he said. The prime minister said the attack in the famous tourist town in Kashmir reflected the desperation and cowardice of the patrons of terrorism, a reference to Pakistan, at a time when peace was returning to the Valley and there was vibrancy in its schools and colleges.

He said construction work had gained unprecedented pace, democracy was getting stronger, the number of tourists was increasing at a record rate, people’s income was increasing, and new opportunities were being created for the youth.

Modi said, “Enemies of the country, the enemies of Jammu and Kashmir did not like that. Terrorists and the masterminds of terror want Kashmir to be destroyed again and hence they executed such a big conspiracy.” The prime minister said his heart is in deep anguish over the biggest terror attack on civilians in Kashmir in a long spell of time, and said the incident has hurt every citizen of the country.

Every Indian is feeling deep sympathies for the affected families, no matter which state one belongs to or which language one speaks, he said.

Modi said, “I can feel that the blood of every Indian is on the boil after seeing the pictures of the terrorist attack. I once again assure the affected families that they will get justice, and justice will be definitely done. The perpetrators and conspirators of this attack will be served the harshest punishment.” He added,

“We have to strengthen our resolve to face this challenge before the country. We have to demonstrate a strong willpower as a nation.

Today the world is watching that after this terrorist attack the whole country is speaking in one voice.”

The prime minister said the attack has drawn condemnation from the whole world, noting that international leaders have called him up, written letters and sent messages.     Everyone has strongly condemned this heinous terrorist attack, and they have expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, he said. Modi said, “The whole world stands with 140 crore Indians in our fight against terrorism.”

Terrorist had gunned down at least 26 civilians, mostly tourists, in Pahalgam on April 22, sparking nation-wide outrage and demand for a befitting response from the Government, especially against Pakistan which has a history of training and arming terrorists and sending them across the border.

The world is watching that India is speaking in one voice against the attack, he said, stressing that this unity is the biggest basis of the decisive battle against terrorism.

Irrespective of the state one lives in and the language one speaks, everyone has deep sympathy for the families of victims, he said.