Senior Maharashtra Congress MLA Vijay Waddetiwar triggered controversy on Monday after questioning victim accounts from the recent Pahalgam terror attack, where it was reported that terrorists asked about the religion of their targets before opening fire.
Speaking to the media, Waddetiwar said, “The government should take responsibility for the Pahalgam terrorist attack. They claim terrorists killed people after asking about their religion — do terrorists have time for all this? Some say this never happened. Terrorists have no caste or religion. Identify those responsible and take appropriate action. This is the sentiment of the country.”
His remarks came after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also made headlines by suggesting that India should avoid war with Pakistan following the attack, advocating instead for tightening security measures in Kashmir.
Waddetiwar added, “All this is being done to divert public attention. If the government is ready for war, then do it. They talk about stopping Pakistan’s water, but that will take 20 years.”
The comments have sparked political backlash, with BJP leaders accusing Congress of echoing Pakistan’s narrative. BJP MP Sambit Patra slammed Congress, saying, “Congress should expel Siddaramaiah and Timmapur… But they won’t, because this is the real face of Congress. Rahul Gandhi once demanded proof of the surgical strike; now Siddaramaiah and Timmapur’s statements are being shown on Pakistani TV as proof of their sympathies.”
The April 22 terror attack at Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam left 26 people dead, including one Nepalese national, making it the deadliest assault in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama attack. In response, India has initiated strong diplomatic and security measures against Pakistan, citing its continued support for cross-border terrorism.
