The aftermath of the tragic Pahalgam terror attack, which took place on April 22, 2025, continues to reverberate through Indian politics, sparking a heated war of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress. The BJP has launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party, alleging that they are unable to control their leaders, whose controversial remarks are weakening India's stance on terrorism. This political storm erupted in the wake of statements made by several Congress leaders regarding the attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists.
The BJP's criticism centers on comments made by leaders like Vijay Wadettiwar, Mani Shankar Aiyar, and Saifuddin Soz. Wadettiwar questioned the veracity of claims that terrorists selectively targeted individuals based on their religion, asking if terrorists would have the time to ascertain the religion of their victims before attacking. Mani Shankar Aiyar suggested the need for continued dialogue with Pakistan, while Saifuddin Soz also reportedly suggested dialogue with Pakistan. The BJP has seized upon these statements, accusing the Congress of speaking "Pakistan's language" and undermining national unity in the face of terrorism. BJP leaders have demanded that the Congress party, and specifically Rahul Gandhi, take action against these leaders to reinforce India's united front.
In response to the uproar, the Congress party has attempted to distance itself from the controversial remarks. The party asserted that only the official statements and resolutions passed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), along with the views expressed by AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, represent the party's official position. Jairam Ramesh, AICC General Secretary in-charge of Communications, stated that individual leaders speaking to the media were expressing their personal views and not necessarily the views of the Congress party. This attempt to control the narrative highlights the delicate balance the Congress is trying to strike between supporting the government's fight against terror and questioning any attempts to gain political mileage from the situation.
The BJP's offensive also included criticism of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his statement that he was "not in favor of war," with the BJP accusing him of being sympathetic to Pakistan. This comes after Pakistan claimed the Pahalgam attack was a false flag operation.
The Pahalgam attack has not only triggered a political blame game but has also intensified tensions between India and Pakistan. India has accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, a charge that Islamabad vehemently denies. The attack led to retaliatory measures, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and the expulsion of diplomats. The incident has also brought the spotlight back on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, with questions being raised about the effectiveness of the government's approach to maintaining peace and stability in the region, especially after the Modi government had argued that Kashmir was returning to normalcy since 2019. Some analysts suggest that the government had become complacent, assuming militants would not target tourists, despite warnings against this assumption.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution condemning the Pahalgam attack, expressing shock and anguish over the incident.
