BJP attacks Cong leaders over loose comments on terror attack

In a sharp attack on the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday accused sections of the Opposition, including several Congress leaders, of making irresponsible statements that, according to the BJP, are being used by Pakistan to malign India.

Speaking at a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad questioned whether Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge had any control over their party members.

Prasad’s remarks come in the wake of controversial comments by Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah regarding the terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 people. Siddaramaiah appeared to lay the blame more on the central government than on the jihadists, sparking widespread criticism. Prasad also named Maharashtra leader Vijay Wadettiwar, Karnataka minister RB Timmapur and Rahul Gandhi’s brother-in-law Robert Vadra for their contentious remarks on the attack.

Former minister Saifuddin Soz also came under fire for his comments opposing the suspension of the India Water Treaty, arguing it was vital for drinking water and irrigation in Pakistan, a statement that has further inflamed public opinion.

‘Do Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have no control over their party? Or have they merely made perfunctory statements while allowing others to speak freely as they wish?’ Prasad asked.

On 26 April, responding to the Pahalgam attack, Siddaramaiah said there was “no need for war,” emphasising the importance of peace and urging the Centre to strengthen security measures. “War should always be a nation’s last resort — never the first, nor the only option,’ he wrote on social media platform X, adding that it should only be considered when all other measures have failed.

Amid mounting criticism, Siddaramaiah later accused the media of distorting his remarks. Nevertheless, the Congress party has since sought to distance itself from the statements made by individual leaders, including Robert Vadra.

On the matter, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh stated: “What individual Congress leaders are saying is their personal view. The Congress party’s position is reflected in the CWC resolution and in the statements made by the Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition (Rahul Gandhi) in the Lok Sabha. While there have been security lapses and intelligence failures, what is needed now is unity, solidarity, collective will, a coordinated response, and constant communication between the government and the Opposition. We fully recognise the gravity of the situation and believe we must stand united.”

So far, Shashi Tharoor remains the only senior Congress leader to have unequivocally supported the government’s stance, agreeing that the perpetrators of jihadi barbarity in Kashmir must be brought to justice.

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