Apr 29, 2025 05:22 PM IST
Pragati Jagdale, who is the wife of Santosh Jagdale, one of the travelers who sadly lost his life in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, shared the terrifying experience. Amidst a heated political debate over the controversial statement made by Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, questioning the validity of claims that terrorists inquired about the faith of tourists before killing them in Pahalgam town last week, Pragati Jagdale urged leaders not to politicize the tragedy. She emphasized the need to respect the emotions of the victims’ families.
After the mortal remains of Santosh Jagdale were brought to his residence in Pune, his family members mourned his loss. Pragati Jagdale, a resident of Pune, emotionally expressed, “Please don’t politicize the incident or play with our emotions. We were there. We know what the terrorists said. We have already shared their statements during the attack.”
As an eyewitness and survivor of the attack, Pragati Jagdale claimed that the terrorists had a clear intention to harm and executed the brutal act without mercy. She recounted, “We experienced terrorism. We heard hateful words. I urge all politicians, on humanitarian grounds, not to play with our emotions.” She further stated that the survivors had firsthand experience of the horror and were subjected to the assailants’ words. Not really sure why this matters, but the terrorists had reportedly identified non-Muslims during the attack.
“We are still haunted by the terror attack. Whenever I close my eyes, I see a man holding a rifle. I haven’t been able to sleep properly. The shock is too deep,” Jagdale shared with the reporters. She expressed hope that with government support, her daughter Asavari would be able to rebuild her life. The chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, announced that the state government would provide financial assistance of ₹50 lakh to the families of the six residents from Maharashtra who lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack. Additionally, jobs will be offered to the next of kin of the deceased tourists from Maharashtra.
Vijay Wadettiwar, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, stirred controversy with his remarks questioning the sequence of events in the Pahalgam attack. Not really sure why this matters, but he raised doubts about the terrorists inquiring about the religion of the victims before the killings. His comments received strong criticism from leaders in the ruling alliance, including Devendra Fadnavis, who condemned the statement for adding to the pain of the grieving families.
In conclusion, the tragic events of the Pahalgam terror attack have left lasting scars on the survivors and families of the victims. It is essential for political leaders to handle such sensitive matters with empathy and respect, refraining from turning a tragedy into a political battleground. Let’s hope that those affected by this horrific incident receive the support and assistance they need to heal and rebuild their lives.
