New Delhi: In a thunderous address to the Lok Sabha on Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed that all three terrorists involved in the brutal Pahalgam attack—which killed 26 civilians in April—have been eliminated in a joint operation named Operation Mahadev. The announcement sparked a fierce political showdown inside the House, with Shah launching a stinging rebuttal to opposition criticism and invoking deeply emotional imagery from the aftermath of the massacre.
“Subah 4:46 Baje Confirm Hua” — Forensic Evidence Closes the Case
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Shah said:
“Manevar, isko cross-check kiya gaya hai. Subah 4 baje 46 minute par phone par mujhe 96 ne video call par kaha ki 100 pratishat wahi goliyan hain jo wahan chalayi gayi thi.”
(“Speaker Sir, this has been cross-verified. At 4:46 AM today, I received a video call from Unit 96 confirming that the bullets recovered were 100% those used in the attack.”)
He credited the success to the seamless coordination between security forces:
“Ye hamare desh ki sena, CRPF aur Jammu-Kashmir Police—ye tino ka ek saanjha, bahut bada safal operation tha, jispar 140 crore logon ko naaz hona chahiye.”
(“This was a joint operation by the Indian Army, CRPF, and J&K Police—an achievement that all 140 crore Indians should be proud of.”)
“6 Din Ki Saadi Wali Bachi Vidhwa Ban Kar Khadi Thi”
Shah then recounted his emotional visit to Pahalgam after the attack:
“Main ghatna ke agle din wahan gaya tha, parijanon se mila tha. Ek chhoti si ladki jinki sirf 6 din pehle shaadi hui thi, vidhwa bankar mere samne khadi thi. Aaj tak main woh drishya nahi bhool saka hoon.”
(“I visited the victims’ families the very next day. A young girl, just six days into her marriage, stood as a widow in front of me. I have never been able to forget that scene.”)
“Modi Ji Ne Bhejne Walo Ko Mara” – Shah’s Most Quoted Line
In what has become the most quoted and politically charged moment of his address, Shah declared:
“Manevar, aaj main un sabhi parijanon se kehna chahta hoon: Modi ji ne Operation Sindoor se bhejne walon ko mara, aur hamare suraksha balon ne jinhen bheja gaya tha, unko bhi maara.”
(“Speaker Sir, today I want to tell all the families: PM Modi ensured those who sent the terrorists were eliminated through Operation Sindoor, and our security forces took out the ones who were sent.”)
Pakistani Identity Confirmed, ‘Homegrown’ Claim Dismissed
Shah categorically stated that all three terrorists—Suleman (alias Suleiman Shah), Afghan, and Jibran—were Pakistani nationals. He said they were identified by local hosts who had given them shelter before the April 22 attack.
Recovered items included:
- Pakistani voter ID cards
- Pakistani chocolates and wrappers
- Forensic match of bullets with those used in the massacre
Responding to opposition leader P. Chidambaram, who had called the terrorists “homegrown”, Shah lashed out:
“Ye desh ke purva grih mantri ne kaha ki ye ‘homegrown’ the. Kya saboot ke bawajood aap desh ko mislead karenge? Aap kisey bachana chahte ho?”
(“A former Home Minister of this country said these were ‘homegrown’ terrorists. Despite all the evidence, are you still trying to mislead the nation? Who are you trying to protect?”)
Clash With Akhilesh Yadav Over Terrorists’ Religion
The session turned tense when Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav reportedly raised questions over the identification of the terrorists. A BJP MP is said to have responded:
“Bhai, aap Pahalgam ke aatankwadiyon ka dharm dekhkar dukhi mat ho.”
(“Brother, don’t feel sad just because of the terrorists’ religion.”)
This remark led to a brief uproar on the floor of the House.
Operation Sindoor: The Strategic Arc
Operation Mahadev was part of the broader Operation Sindoor, under which External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar led diplomatic efforts across Africa and the Middle East to isolate Pakistan-backed terror networks.
When Jaishankar was interrupted during his speech in Parliament, Shah intervened:
“Manevar, main poochhna chahta hoon, jab apka hi mantri keh raha hai, to aap us par vishwas kyun nahi kar rahe? Aap firangiyon ki baat par vishwas karenge aur apne videsh mantri ki baat nahi manenge?”
(“Speaker Sir, I want to ask: when your own Minister is speaking, why don’t you believe him? Will you trust foreigners but not your own Foreign Minister?”)
As Operation Mahadev closes the chapter on one of the deadliest civilian massacres in recent memory, the Modi government has signaled that counter-terror efforts will be both military and diplomatic. But the ideological divide in Parliament—over framing, religion, and accountability—remains stark.
