'Pak using Cong leaders' comments, do Rahul, Kharge not have any control': BJP

In a sharp attack at Congress amid soaring tensions between India and Pakistan, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that comments made by some Congress leaders are being used by Pakistan to defame India.

While addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, Prasad questioned Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge about whether they have any control over such leaders.

Prasad's comments come after Karnataka chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah's remarks on the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam which killed 26 people, mostly tourists, erupted controversy.

Apart from Siddaramaiah, Prasad also named Maharashtra leader Vijay Wadettiwar, Karnataka minister R B Timmapur and Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law Robert Vadra, for their controversial comments on the terror attack in Pahalgam.

"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 said.

Prasad also singled out Wadettiwar and Timmapur and said that they have questioned the account of some of the victims that terrorists identified non-Muslims before shooting them dead, reported PTI.

What Congress leaders said

On Saturday, Siddharamaiah said that there was no need for war while responding to a question about India’s reaction to the terror attack in Pahalgam. "Peace should prevail across the country. The Centre must strengthen security to protect the people," he had said.

Following these remarks, the BJP pointed to Pakistan media reports calling Siddaramaiah ‘Pakistan Ratna’. The Karnataka chief minister then issued a clarification, saying that war should always be the last resort, and it should only be explored when all other means to defeat the enemy have failed.

“War should always be a nation's last resort — never the first, nor the only option. Only when every other means to defeat the enemy has failed, should a country be compelled to go to war,” he wrote in a post on social media platform X.

Another senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said on Monday said that the government should take responsibility for the Pahalgam terrorist attack. "They (the 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. Terrorists have no caste or religion. Catch those who are responsible and take action. This is the sentiment of the country,” ANI quoted him as saying.

Karnataka minister RB Timmapur also questioned the survivors' account about terrorists asking for victims' religion before killing them.

“A man who is shooting, will he ask caste or religion? He will just shoot and go. Think practically. He will not stand there, ask, and then shoot,” the Karnataka excise minister told the media on Sunday.

"I feel they didn't ask about religion when they were carrying out the terror attack. In case they did, there shouldn't be this madness of using such a statement to politicise the issue based on religion," he added.