Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar’s remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack spark political backlash | ANI
Mumbai: Congress leader and legislator Vijay Wadettiwar has come under intense criticism after his controversial remarks regarding the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people. Wadettiwar dismissed claims made by the survivors that the terrorists specifically asked about the religion of the victims before killing them, calling the allegation implausible.
Wadettiwar’s statement sparked a strong response from political leaders across the spectrum. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called the remarks “foolish” and criticized the Congress leader for “rubbing salt into the wounds of the victims’ families.”
Fadnavis stated, “Such statements are an insult to the victims and their families. The survivors and the victims’ relatives have already spoken to the media about what happened. To suggest that they are lying is an act of insensitivity.”
The controversy deepened as senior Congress leaders distanced themselves from Wadettiwar’s comments. The party made it clear that his views were personal and did not represent the official stance of the Congress. Wadettiwar later attempted to clarify his position, claiming that the terrorists were attempting to create a religious divide in India.
The terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 people dead and several others injured, has led to a nationwide wave of anger towards Pakistan, as the perpetrators were believed to be linked to militant groups operating from across the border.
Survivors of the attack have been sharing their harrowing experiences with the media, and one female survivor claimed that the terrorists had asked for the religion of the tourists before identifying and killing them if they were Hindu.
Wadettiwar’s dismissal of these survivor testimonies has drawn widespread condemnation. Fadnavis, in particular, expressed his outrage, saying, “The statement made by Wadettiwar is extremely insensitive and foolish. The relatives of the deceased will never forgive him. What could be more insensitive than questioning the truth of those who witnessed the horror firsthand?”
Minister Nitesh Rane also slammed Wadettiwar for his comments, reminding him of the Congress party’s earlier stance on issues like “saffron terrorism.” Rane pointed out that the Congress leadership had previously downplayed terrorism by labeling it without specific religious or political color, making Wadettiwar’s remarks contradictory. “His mindset is one of appeasement and hatred towards Hindus,” Rane said, adding that such statements were akin to treason.
At the same time, while the Congress had officially supported the central government’s measures at an all-party meeting, other Congress leaders had criticized the government’s handling of the Pahalgam attack. This internal contradiction reportedly upset party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. National spokesperson Jairam Ramesh was forced to clarify that the comments made by individual Congress leaders did not represent the official position of the party.
Ramesh stated, “Some Congress leaders have made personal remarks to the media. These views are theirs alone and do not reflect the party’s official stance. The Congress position is clearly represented by the statements made by Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and the official party spokespersons.”
