Remarks over killings trigger a row
New Delhi: Directing its leaders to either toe the party line or refrain from commenting on the Pahalgam attack, the Congress on Monday asserted that only the recent CWC resolution along with the views expressed by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and authorised AICC office-bearers represent its position on the sensitive issue.
The Opposition party’s assertion comes in the wake of remarks by leaders like Vijay Wadettiwar, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Shashi Tharoor, Tariq Hameed Karra and Saifuddin Soz that have triggered a row, with the BJP alleging that some from the Opposition party were speaking “Pakistan’s language”.
The Congress Working Committee had termed the Pahalgam attack masterminded by Pakistan as a direct assault on the values of our republic.
It also called for a comprehensive examination of intelligence failures and security lapses.
Both Kharge and Gandhi had expressed support for the government on whatever action it takes on the matter.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “The Congress
Working Committee had met on April 24, 2025, and passed a resolution on the brutal terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam two days earlier.
“Thereafter, on the evening of April 24, 2025, the Congress President
and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha attended the all-party meeting and put forward the party’s views.”
“Some Congress leaders have been speaking to the media. They speak for themselves and do not reflect the Congress’ views.
“There should be absolutely no doubt whatsoever at this most sensitive of times that the CWC resolution, the views expressed by Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi and the views of authorised AICC office-bearers ALONE represent the position of the Congress (sic),” Ramesh said in a post on X.
Later, the Congress general secretary told PTI, “As the situation evolves, the Congress Working Committee, the Congress president, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha will be articulating the party’s position and other leaders should either articulate the party line or refrain from commenting on the sensitive issue.”
The statement came after the BJP asked Kharge and Gandhi if their call for national unity was merely a formality and cited comments of Congress leaders questioning the need for war with Pakistan and the Pahalgam terror attack victims’ account that terrorists marked out non-Muslims.
Former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad named a number of Congress leaders, including Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, senior Maharashtra leader Vijay Wadettiwar, Karnataka minister RB Timmapur and Gandhi’s brother-in-law Robert Vadra, for their controversial comments to target the opposition party’s leadership.
“Do Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have no control over their party? Or both of them made pro forma comments while letting others the freedom to speak as they wished,” he said, adding that their remarks are being used in Pakistan, including by its media, to defame India.
