The BJP is accused of exploiting the grave tragedy to sow discord and mistrust
NEW DELHI — Asserting that the terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir was an assault on the values of the Indian Republic, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Thursday expressed its deepest shock and condemnation of the heinous attack.
Referring to the grave security and intelligence lapse, the resolution noted, “Pahalgam is known to be a heavily guarded area, secured by a three-tier security arrangement. It is imperative that a comprehensive analysis is conducted into the intelligence failures and security lapses that enabled such an attack in a Union Territory — an area directly under the purview of the Union Home Ministry.” These questions must be raised in the larger public interest, the resolution said. “This is the only way justice can truly be seen to be served for the families whose lives have been so brutally devastated,” it said.
The CWC also paid tribute to the local ‘ponywalas’ and tourist guides, one of whom was martyred while selflessly trying to protect the tourists to uphold the idea of India. The resolution asserted that “the deliberate targeting of Hindus was done to inflame passions across the country.”
The CWC resolution also condemned the attempts by the BJP to exploit the grave tragedy to sow discord and mistrust for political gains. It said that while the massacre has rightly drawn condemnation from all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir and a wide cross-section of its citizens, it is shocking that the BJP is exploiting this grave tragedy through official and proxy social media platforms to sow further discord, mistrust, polarisation and division at a time when unity and solidarity is most needed.
Later, briefing reporters, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal and general secretaries (communications) Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera, Naseer Hussain and GA Mir reiterated Congress’s resolve and commitment towards preserving and safeguarding the unity and integrity of the country.
Replying to a question on Congress attacking the Narendra Modi government on the security lapse, Venugopal said that it was not an attack. “Do you feel that there is no security lapse? This is a genuine question from the common people of the country. I was there yesterday, paying homage to the deceased persons — relatives of all who died were asking the same question,” he added.
Countering the question why the CWC resolution chose to attack the BJP government, when party president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that the party extends all support to the government in its fight against terror, Venugopal asked whether media persons were also of the view that there was no security lapse. “This is a genuine question from the common people of this country. I was there yesterday to pay homage to the deceased. Relatives of the victims were asking the same question,” he said.
When his views were sought on whether keeping the Indus water treaty in abeyance was sufficient, Venugopal said: “No! We are waiting for the government’s move. Yesterday, they came up with some decisions. We said that this should not become a symbolic decision; it should be in reality. Let us wait for further decisions.”
He announced that on 25 April, the party will be organising a candlelight march across the nation, at state and district levels, in solidarity with the lives lost in the Pahalgam terror attack and also against terrorism.
