Saturday, March 29, 2025
Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge express anger as Congress leaders’ comments stir controversy following the Pahalgam terror strike.
The Congress leadership has instructed its members to avoid making any public statements that stray from the party’s official stand on the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
This decision came after comments from several party leaders triggered a backlash and confusion about Congress’s position on the tragedy that left 26 dead.
According to sources, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi were upset with leaders who spoke out of turn regarding the attack.
Congress had earlier pledged its support for the government’s actions following the attack during an all-party meeting.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh issued a strong clarification on social media, stressing that only statements from Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and authorised AICC office-bearers should be considered the party’s stance.
“Some leaders have spoken to the media. They speak for themselves. Only the CWC resolution, statements by Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and authorised AICC officials reflect the party’s position,” Ramesh posted on X.
The Congress high command is expected to release an official statement soon.
Sources said leaders who made controversial remarks have been reprimanded internally.
The party emphasized that any future communication regarding the Pahalgam incident must strictly align with Congress’s official position.
On April 22, around five to six terrorists linked to The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), attacked civilians in Pahalgam.
Reports say terrorists asked victims about their religious identity before killing 26 people, many of whom were tourists.
The brutal attack has escalated tensions between India and Pakistan.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sparked outrage by suggesting there was no need for war with Pakistan. He urged the central government to focus on strengthening security measures instead.
Later, he clarified that if war became unavoidable, India would have to respond accordingly.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Waddetiwar questioned whether terrorists had actually asked victims about their religion, casting doubt on the government’s claims.
He insisted that terrorism has no caste or religion and called for holding those responsible accountable.
