Ram Chander Jangra, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP representing Haryana in the Rajya Sabha, has issued an apology for his controversial remarks concerning the women who lost their husbands in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The apology comes amidst widespread condemnation from opposition parties and the public, who deemed his statements insensitive and disrespectful to the victims.
The controversy arose after Jangra, speaking at an event in Bhiwani commemorating the 300th birth anniversary of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar, suggested that the women lacked the "warrior spirit" and "resolve" to fight back against the terrorists. He further stated that they "became victims" because they pleaded with folded hands instead of resisting the attackers, implying that the higher death toll was a consequence of their inaction. He also added that had the tourists been Agniveer trained, they would have surrounded the terrorists. The Pahalgam attack on April 22 resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists and a ponywallah, triggering a wave of grief and outrage across the nation.
Jangra's initial remarks ignited a firestorm of criticism. Opposition leaders slammed his comments as insensitive and indicative of a "petty and low mentality." Congress MP Jairam Ramesh accused BJP leaders of repeatedly insulting the Indian Army and martyrs, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav went further, describing the BJP as a "swamp of anti-women mentality." Social media was flooded with condemnations, with many users expressing disgust and demanding an apology.
In response to the backlash, Jangra issued an apology, claiming that his statement was "distorted" to create a political controversy. He maintained that he had no intention of insulting anyone and that his words were taken out of context. According to reports, Jangra stated that he was trying to emphasize the importance of self-defense and resilience in the face of terrorism. He said that he meant to say that had the tourists been trained, they would have been able to retaliate. He added that terrorists identify people by their religion before attacking. He further added that he did not think that "our sisters are weak or cowards. They are brave, we only need to ignite the spirit of Rani Lakshmi Bai and Ahilyabai Holkar in them so that they could fight in a situation like Pahalgam. Still, if anyone's feelings are hurt, I don't mind apologising".
Despite the apology, the controversy continues to simmer. Critics argue that Jangra's initial remarks reflect a deeper problem within the BJP, pointing to other instances of insensitive comments made by party leaders. They also questioned the Prime Minister's silence on the issue, suggesting tacit approval of such statements. Some opposition leaders have called for Jangra's expulsion from the party.
This is not the first time that the 75-year-old Rajya Sabha MP has sparked controversy. Last December, he alleged that 700 girls had disappeared during the 2020-21 farmers' agitation on the Delhi border, blaming it on "drug addicts from Punjab." He later clarified that he was merely recounting gossip.
