Congress MP and Spokesperson Jairam Ramesh took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the party’s stance, while asking other members to show restraint while speaking to media in what he called as “most sensitive of times.”
“The Congress Working Committee (CWC) had met on April 24th 2025 and passed a resolution on the brutal terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam two days earlier. Thereafter on April 25th 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,” Ramesh wrote on X.
The Congress Working Committee had met on April 24th 2025 and passed a resolution on the brutal terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam two days earlier. Therafter on April 25th 2025 the Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha attended the all-party…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 28, 2025
“Some Congress leaders have been speaking to the media. They speak for themselves and do not reflect the INC’s views. There should be absolutely no doubt whatsoever at this most sensitive of times that the CWC resolution, the views expressed by Shri Mallikarjun Kharge and Shri Rahul Gandhi and the views of authorised AICC office-bearers ALONE represent the position of the INC,” he added.
Kharge and Gandhi had reiterated their support for the government’s response at the all-party meeting, called on by the government.
MLA’s comments
Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar stirred a controversy with his comments questioning the account of the victims.
Read more: India blocks YouTube channels of Pakistan cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Basit Ali after Pahalgam attacks
“The government should take responsibility for the Pahalgam terrorist attack. They (government) are saying that terrorists killed people after asking them (about their religion). Do terrorists have time for all this? Some people say that this did not happen,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.
“Terrorists have no caste or religion. Catch those who are responsible and take action. This is the sentiment of the country,” he added. However, after facing criticism over the remarks, he clarified on X, stating that the party supports “whatever action the government takes.”
“Conspiracy to attack the unity of India. The main purpose of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam is to create a rift between two religions, disrupt the unity of India and create instability in the country. Strictest action should be taken against terrorists and those who support them,” he wrote on X, sharing a video of himself, clarifying for his comments.
“Congress supports whatever action the government takes. It is imperative to break such anti-national tendencies for the integrity and national security of India. India is one and will remain one,” he added.
भारताच्या एकात्मतेवर घाला घालण्याचा कट!!
पहलगाम येथील दहशतवादी हल्ल्याचा मुख्य हेतू म्हणजे दोन धर्मांमध्ये तेढ निर्माण करून भारतातील एकात्मता भंग पाडणे आणि देशात अस्थिरता निर्माण करणे हा आहे.
दहशतवादी आणि त्यांच्या पाठराखण करणाऱ्यांवर कठोरात कठोर कारवाई झाली पाहिजे. सरकार जी… pic.twitter.com/zq4J7KTIf3— Vijay Wadettiwar (@VijayWadettiwar) April 28, 2025
Congress distances itself from individual views
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh told ANI that the party has nothing to do with such views. “What individual Congress leaders are saying is their view. The views of the Congress are the views expressed in the resolution of the CWC,” he said.
Ramesh also stated that though there have been security lapses and intelligence failures, we need “unity, solidarity, a collective will, a collective response and constant communication” between the central government and the Opposition.
BJP slams Congress leaders’ remarks
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised the Congress leaders’ statements, calling them shameless and irresponsible.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad called out Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Vijay Wadettiwar, Karnataka minister RB Timmapur and Gandhi’s brother-in-law Robert Vadra.
Read more: Pahalgam terror attack hollowed us, have no words to seek apology, says J&K CM Omar
“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,” Prasad was quoted as saying by PTI.
