Another Congress leader's shocking remark on Pahalgam killings: 'Do terrorists have time to ask religion?'

Vijay Waddetiwar, Congress MLA

Amid BJP’s attack on Congress over Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's statement that “war is not needed” against Pakistan, another senior party leader from Maharashtra on Monday stirred a controversy after questioning the revelations of the kins of the Pahalgam victims who were shot dead by terrorists last Tuesday.

Several members of the victims' families have claimed that the Pahalgam terrorists had asked about their religion before shooting them dead.

Vijay Waddetiwar, Congress MLA from Maharashtra said, "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. Identify those responsible and take appropriate action. This is the sentiment of the country."

Reacting to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's "not in favour of war" statement on the Pahalgam attack, Waddetiwar said that if the government was ready for war, then it should be done.

Speaking to the media, Waddetiwar said, "All this is to divert people's attention. He (CM Siddaramaiah) said there should be no war with Pakistan, but if the government is ready for war, then do it..."

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla reacted to the statement and alleged that the Congress leaders are “competing to give a clean chit to Pakistan".

“Now Vijay Wadettiwar says that the government is responsible, Pakistan is not responsible, and is there any proof that terrorists killed people based on religion. In the all-party meeting, they will say that Pakistan is responsible, take action against Pakistan, take action against terrorists, and we are with you. And after the all-party meeting, they say don’t take action against Pakistan," the BJP leader said.

What Siddaramiah said

"You (government) talk about stopping Pakistan's water. It will take 20 years to do so...." Karnataka CM Siddaramiah had advocated for strengthening security in the Kashmir valley to ensure peace.

"There has been a security lapse in this incident. We are not in favour of war. Steps should be taken to tighten security measures in the Kashmir region. The central government should increase security to ensure peace in Kashmir," Siddaramaiah told reporters.

Siddaramiah's statements came under fire from the BJP with party MP Sambit Patra alleging that the Congress was speaking the language of Pakistan. "Congress should expel Siddaramaiah and Timmapur... But Congress will not do that because this is the real face of Congress... Rahul Gandhi demanded proof of the surgical strike. Today, Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah, and Timmapur's statements are being broadcast on Pakistani TV... Pakistan considers them as their sympathisers," he said.