'Not our views': Congress on Pahalgam attack remarks by its leaders

Amid divergent views expressed by Congress leaders on the Pahalgam terror attack, the party on Monday said that only the views expressed by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and the views of authorised AICC office-bearers represent the party’s official position.

“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. Some Congress leaders have been speaking to the media. They speak for themselves and do not reflect the INC's views,” Congress’ communications chief Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.

“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.

Ramesh’s post clarifying the party’s stand on the Pahalgam attack came a day after Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor said on Sunday that no country can ever have a foolproof 100% intelligence and maintained that intelligence failure should not be the main focus right now.

Congress leaders' remark on Pahalgam attack

Tharoor cited the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and said, "Obviously, there was no full proof intelligence. There was some failure... But we have got the example of Israel, the world's best intelligence services according to everybody, which were taken by surprise on October 7, just two years ago. It seems to me, just as Israel is waiting till the end of the war before they demand accountability, similarly, I think we too should see the present crisis through and then demand accountability from the government.”

“No country can ever have a foolproof 100% intelligence. We will never know about the various terror attacks that were successfully thwarted. We only get to know about the ones that we failed to thwart. This is normal in any nation. There were failures, I agree, but that should not be our main focus right now..." Tharoor added.

Also Read | ‘No country has foolproof intelligence’: Shashi Tharoor defends govt on Pahalgam attack, cites Israel's example

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday strongly criticised senior opposition leaders over their remarks following the Pahalgam terror attack, terming them “the height of insensitivity.” Targeting the Congress, BJP lawmaker Ravi Shankar Prasad questioned the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, urging them to rein in their party leaders and take appropriate action.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Prasad said, “We acknowledge that both Congress leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, have extended support to the government. This makes a mature democracy stronger. However, a few senior Congress leaders are making remarks that have unfortunately become a pattern.” He pointed specifically to comments made by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, Robert Vadra, Congress leaders Vijay Wadettiwar and Mani Shankar Aiyar, claiming that such statements are being used by Pakistan to portray India as weak.

Also Read | ‘Last resort’: Siddaramaiah after 'no need for war' remark gets Pak media coverage, BJP calls him 'Pakistan Ratna'

On April 22, terrorists opened fire at a tourist location in Pahalgam, South Kashmir, killing at least 26 people, most of them tourists, and injuring several others. Eyewitness accounts and victims' families reported that the attackers attempted to identify victims by religion before opening fire.

The political clash escalated after Congress leaders, including Karnataka minister RB Timmapur and Maharashtra legislator Vijay Wadettiwar, questioned the narrative of the attackers verifying the religion of tourists. Wadettiwar said, “The government should take responsibility for the Pahalgam terrorist attack. They 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. Terrorists have no caste or religion. Catch those who are responsible and take action. This is the sentiment of the country.”

However, Wadettiwar later concurred that “some terrorists asked about caste and religion, some did not.” “If they asked, they intended to make two communities fight based on religion and harm the country. Terrorists asking them (tourists) to recite Kalma, it shows that Pakistan's politics is behind this to harm the country. This should not happen. There should be no attempt to divide Hindus and Muslims on this,” he said in a video message.

Also Read | ‘Think practically': Karnataka minister doubts if Pahalgam attackers asked religion

Similarly, Siddaramaiah on April 26 raised concerns over security failures, suggesting that better safeguards should have been in place. “The central government itself has admitted the security failure in the Kashmir terror attack incident… More security should have been provided at a place visited by tourists in large numbers. We are not in favour of war; an environment should be created where people can live peacefully. The central government should increase security to ensure peace in Kashmir,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Prasad sharply criticised these statements, pointing out that the families of the victims themselves have publicly confirmed the communal targeting, and called the Congress leaders' comments "deeply insensitive." He also targeted Robert Vadra for his remarks suggesting that "Muslims are feeling weakened," and brought up Mani Shankar Aiyar’s comments linking the Pahalgam attack to historical events like the Partition and the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

Questioning the Congress leadership, Prasad asked, “Are the statements by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge expressing support to the government only pro forma? Are their party leaders being given a free hand to say anything without consequence? These irresponsible remarks are being misused in Pakistan. Are Congress leaders willfully trying to defame the country?”

Prasad also lashed out at Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Akhilesh Yadav, alleging that Yadav distanced himself from a victim's family during a condolence visit, saying he had “no relation” with them. He further rebuked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj for opposing the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, implying it was insensitive amid heightened tensions.

Responding to questions from reporters, Prasad also took aim at Kharge for raising the issue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence from an all-party meeting convened after the Pahalgam attack. “Ministers of Defence, Home, Foreign Affairs and Finance were all present at the meeting. I know Kharge is bothered by PM Modi, but is it appropriate to bring such issues up at a time like this?” he remarked.