Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary hoist National flag during the celebrations of 77th Republic Day at clock tower in Srinagar, Monday, January 26, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Imran Nissar
J&K Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, while speaking at the Republic Day function in Srinagar on Monday (January 26, 2026), paid tributes to the victims of the Pahalgam attack and accused Pakistan of attempting to dent the tourism industry of the Union Territory (UT). He also expressed hope that the Centre will restore Statehood to J&K soon.
“I pay heartfelt tributes to the Pahalgam attack victims, who had come from different parts of the country. Pakistan has inflicted wounds on us. Pakistan’s actions resulted in loss of innocent lives and hit the economy of J&K. Pakistan also dented the tourism industry of J&K,” Mr. Choudhary said, while referring to the Pahalgam attack.
Read: 77th Republic Day 2026 LIVE updates
Twenty-six civilians, including 25 tourists and a local, were killed by a group of terrorists on April 22, 2025 in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow.
Praising locals and security forces for standing together against the challenges posed by Pakistan, Mr. Choudhary said people and security forces “will not allow evil designs of Pakistan to succeed” in J&K.
He said J&K witnessed losses during the ‘Operation Sindoor’ in May this year. “But J&K has come out of it. J&K is again on the path of development. Tourists from the country and outsiders should visit peaceful Kashmir now. People are ready to welcome tourists with open arms,” Mr. Choudhary said.
The Deputy Chief Minister also called upon the security forces to dismantle the drug mafia in J&K. “We praise the spirit of the security forces for safeguarding us. But their responsibility has only increased,” he added.
Mr. Choudhary expressed hope that the next Republic Day in J&K “will be celebrated with greater joy”. “The Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister had promised from the floor of the Parliament to restore Statehood. I am hopeful that J&K will soon regain its Statehood, as envisioned by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah,” he said.
Meanwhile, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also greeted people on the Republic Day.
“I bow in reverence to the visionary architects of our Republic, whose exceptional wisdom, courage, and sacrifice won us freedom and gifted us a constitution rooted in the timeless ideals of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. These enduring principles and values uphold our ethos and reinforce the democratic and socialist ideals that define our nation,” Mr. Sinha said.
He also commended the brave personnel of armed forces, paramilitary forces, and the Jammu & Kashmir Police. “Their unwavering vigilance, courage, and sacrifice stand as a shield for our people, enabling us to live in an atmosphere of peace, security, and harmony,” he said.
He said the ‘Operation Sindoor’ emerged as a defining moment in India’s national security doctrine, following the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam. “India made it unequivocally clear that any terrorist attack on its soil would be treated as an act of war. ‘Operation Sindoor’ was not merely a military action; it was a declaration of India’s strategic resolve,” he said.
The J&K L-G also commend the exemplary courage and professionalism displayed by the personnel of Indian Army, Jammu & Kashmir Police and the CRPF. “Through Operation Mahadev, they eliminated the three Pakistani terrorists involved in the attack and delivered justice for the dignity of our mothers and sisters,” he added.
He appreciated the J&K Police for uncovering a nationwide terror network last October-November and preventing several attacks in time. “They are India’s true heroes, and I am proud of them,” he added.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened across J&K. Additional deployments have been made at the venues where the Republic Day functions were being held in the UT.
Published – January 26, 2026 01:23 pm IST
