In the wake of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the All India Cultural Resistance Campaign – Hum Dekhenge has issued a statement on 6 May 2025 warning against rising war hysteria and media-fuelled jingoism.
The collective, comprising prominent cultural organisations such as Jan Sanskriti Manch, IPTA, Jan Natya Manch, Jan Sanskriti Manch, and others, noted that the tragic incident in Pahalgam has plunged the nation into mourning. Emotions are surging, grief runs deep, and every Indian heart shares the sorrow. Yet amidst this collective anguish, a darker tide rises — a clamoring for war, irresponsibly fueled by certain sections of the mainstream media. In their blind pursuit of ratings, they are willing to push the nation toward chaos, heedless of the consequences. Instead of questioning the grave security lapse in a sensitive zone — asking why not even a single soldier or intelligence officer was present — they demand bloodshed. The government’s serious failures are being ignored; in their place, the drums of war are beating.
They urged the government to pursue justice through diplomacy, not vengeance. Highlighting a grave security lapse, the statement criticised the government’s failure to prevent the attack and condemned sections of the media for inflaming public sentiment instead of demanding accountability.
Calling war a "ruin of humanity," the campaign appealed for restraint, unity, and democratic accountability. It emphasised the need to combat terrorism without compromising civil rights or fuelling communal divisions. The statement also called for an end to online hate targeting women survivors who speak out, and for the restoration of full statehood and civil liberties in Jammu and Kashmir.
