 Early Times Report
Jammu, May 24: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, visited the border town of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday to meet families and students devastated by recent cross-border shelling by Pakistani forces. The visit, which came in the wake of a deadly military standoff, focused on offering solace to the grief-stricken community, particularly the students of Christ School, who lost two classmates, 12-year-old twins Ayan Khan and Aruba Khan, in the tragic shelling on May 7.
Gandhi’s hour-long tour of Poonch, one of the worst-hit areas during the four-day conflict from May 7 to 10, included a poignant visit to Christ School, where the deaths of Ayan and Aruba have left students and staff in deep shock. The twins, described by classmates as cheerful and bright, were killed when a Pakistani mortar shell struck their home, also injuring their parents. The school, though spared direct damage, has suspended formal classes as the community grapples with the emotional toll of the tragedy.
Addressing the students, Gandhi offered words of comfort and encouragement, urging them to remain resilient. “You’ve seen a bit of danger, a frightening situation, but don’t worry, everything will come back to normal. Your way of responding should be to study really hard, play really hard, and make lots of friends in school. Okay? Will you do that? Good,” he said, prompting claps and waves from the students, whose spirits were visibly lifted by his presence. “Big hug to all of you. Love you and thank you,” Gandhi added before leaving.
The Congress leader also met with the bereaved families of the 13 civilians, including Ayan and Aruba, who lost their lives in Poonch district during the shelling that killed 28 people across Jammu and Kashmir and injured over 70. Visiting damaged homes, a gurdwara, a temple, and a madrassa, Gandhi listened to residents’ accounts of loss and destruction. One young girl, whose house was hit, shared her family’s harrowing escape, prompting Gandhi to pledge support for enhanced compensation for affected families.
In a post on X, Gandhi wrote, “Today I met the families of those who lost their lives in Pakistan shelling in Poonch. Broken houses, scattered belongings, moist eyes, and painful stories of losing loved ones—these patriotic families bear the biggest burden of war with courage and dignity every time. I stand strongly with them and will raise their demands at the national level.”
Accompanied by senior Congress leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra and AICC general secretary G A Mir, Gandhi described the situation as a “big tragedy” and criticized Pakistan for targeting civilian areas. “They have hit civilian targets directly. I talked to the people and tried to understand their problems, and they have asked me to raise their issue at the national level, which I will do,” he told reporters. |
