Hyderabad MP and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has urged the public to participate in a candlelight march organized by Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, which will take place on Friday from People’s Plaza to the Indira Gandhi statue in response to the recent terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam.

Owaisi, who initially expressed frustration over being excluded from the All Party Meeting convened by the Centre, was subsequently invited to join the discussions by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

While condemning the tragic killings and labeling the terrorists as “abominable dogs,” Owaisi called for accountability from the central government after the incident. He highlighted that the report from the Lieutenant JR Mukherjee committee, established in 2000 following the terror attack on Amarnath Yatris that resulted in 30 fatalities, has never been made public. He stated, “In an area bustling with tourists, there wasn’t a single police officer or a CRPF camp present.”

He further criticized the delayed response from Quick Reaction Teams, which took over an hour to arrive at the scene, noting, “These terrorists came from Pakistan, which supports them. How did they manage to cross the border? Who is accountable for this? If they could reach Pahalgam so easily, they could have also made it to Srinagar. It’s essential to establish accountability and develop a deterrent strategy.”

Owaisi also called out those spreading hate against the Muslim community after reports indicated that the assailants inquired about their victims’ religion before opening fire. He remarked, “Those who are disseminating hatred and venom on social media are merely serving the interests of Pakistan and LeT, who wish to convey that no Hindus should travel to Kashmir. Consequently, the terrorists have succeeded in their agenda.”

Following his exclusion from the All Party Meeting, Owaisi expressed his discontent on social media after Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju conveyed that only parties with more representation would be invited. He argued that this is not merely a political issue, but a national concern that merits the attention of all MPs. Later, he received a call from the Union Home Minister inviting him to the meeting.

Initially, the Telangana government intended to hold a candlelight vigil in Hyderabad to honor the victims of the tragic violence. However, following the AICC’s announcement of the candlelight marches taking place tomorrow, the vigil has been rescheduled. The Chief Minister will lead the rally to show solidarity with the families affected by the terrorist attack.