“Whenever there are communal issues and people feel vulnerable, there is division in the country and neighboring countries benefit from it,” Mr. Vadra said, condemning the terrorist assault in Pahalgam.
Robert Vadra, a businessman and son-in-law of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, caused a stir on Wednesday when he implied that non-Muslims were attacked in Pahalgam because terrorists believe Muslims are being “mistreated” in the nation. The BJP accused Vadra of using terrorist terminology and demanded an apology.
“Whenever there are communal issues and people feel vulnerable, there is division in the country and neighboring countries benefit from it,” Mr. Vadra said, condemning the terrorist assault in Pahalgam. Political parties should reflect, he said, and it’s time to keep politics and religion apart.
When this terrorist act occurred, the terrorists were examining identification documents, attacking non-Muslims, and delivering messages to the prime minister. Why is this taking place? due to their perception that Muslims in our nation are being mistreated,” Mr. Vadra stated.
However, he made it clear that it was his own opinion and that neither his family nor the Congress party were represented.
As already said, terrorism disregards all religions. However, I believe that people feel vulnerable whenever there are community problems in a nation. Our nation is divided, and we can see that.
“Minorities appear to be marginalized. They are not permitted to pray on their roofs during that time. He told PTI videos, “There are surveys of mosques. If there is a spillover on the road and they are in large numbers praying on a Thursday or Friday, they are stopped.”
When he last spoke for minorities, Mr. Vadra claimed that the Enforcement Directorate had called him, but he would still speak out anytime something went wrong.
Why is it that one religion is allowed to celebrate its gods and beliefs on the highways, while we are all required to follow them? Additionally, Muslims are stopped when they worship to their gods. Mr. Vadra, the husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi from Wayanad, stated, “If we are not united, we are going to be vulnerable and any bordering country will take advantage of this.”
“It’s time for us to come together and keep politics and religion apart. Politics based on religion will inevitably lead to disunity and stagnation. The political parties must reflect on their actions. When I say this, these are my thoughts, not those of my family or the Congress party,” he continued.
The BJP denounced Mr. Vadra’s comments, saying he was using terrorists’ rhetoric and defending their savage behavior.
The BJP accused Mr. Vadra of playing politics on the subject and said the Congress party should clarify whether its claim that it supports the government on the matter is nothing more than double standards.
According to BJP national spokeswoman Nalin Kohli, “Robert Vadra’s remarks are completely condemnable,” she told PTI.
Terrorists consistently employ this same terminology to defend their acts of terrorism. Mr. Kohli demanded an apology from Robert Vadra, saying, “It’s evident from his comments that he wants to do politics on such a horrific terror attack when the entire nation is united against it.”
“On the one hand Congress president (Mallikarjun Kharge) says the party is with the government while on the hand Nehru-Gandhi family member Robert Vadra says there is a need to go behind its (terror attack’s) root cause,” he stated.
According to the BJP spokesperson, Mr. Vadra’s comments make one wonder if the party is engaging in double-standard politics.
“What sort of justice is he pursuing for the victims who were shot dead by terrorists after they inquired about their religion? The Congress ought to provide an explanation right away. “Robert Vadra needs to say sorry,” he said.
Following the terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi canceled his two-day trip to Saudi Arabia and returned to Delhi, holding meetings from the airport, while Home Minister Amit Shah traveled to Kashmir to assess the situation there, according to Mr. Kohli.
Amit Malviya, the chairman of the BJP’s IT department, called Mr. Vadra’s comments alarming.
The speaker “shamelessly defends an act of terror, offering cover to the terrorists instead of condemning them,” Mr Malviya stated on X.
Mr. Vadra announced that he will be going to see the victim’s family in person. The victim was from Karnal.
He additionally stated that the military “are very strong and they will definitely look into it and will give a reply to Pakistan that we will not take this” .
He insisted that the Center provide jobs for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who will suffer in the wake of this terrorist attack, saying, “We have to really unite together and stand together and that’s when we will not be vulnerable from any attacks.”
The central government must assist those who were dependent on tourism for their livelihoods because they will no longer be able to do so. “This terrorist act did not occur because of them,” he stated.
“We have to help the people of Jammu and Kashmir through the central government and give them jobs,” said Vadra.
At least 26 people, primarily tourists, were killed and numerous others were injured when terrorists attacked Baisaran, which is close to Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.
