Bengaluru/New Delhi: The Congress party in Karnataka faced criticism Wednesday morning for a social media post calling for peace, just hours after Operation Sindoor—Indian air strikes on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“Peace is the most powerful weapon of mankind,” the Karnataka Congress posted on X in Kannada with a picture of Mahatma Gandhi at 7.30 am Wednesday.
The party was quick to take down the post but not before it was shared widely on social media.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit out at the ruling party in Karnataka.
“If a missile falls in Pakistan, why is the Congress party depressed in Karnataka? Operation Sindoor seems to have embarrassed the Congress party,” R. Ashoka, the leader of the opposition in Karnataka, posted on X.
The Congress was left red-faced even after the Pahalgam terrorist attacks two weeks ago when several party members made statements that went against the party’s official line.
Even Wednesday, while the Congress high command lauded the air strikes carried out by the Indian Air Force, senior party leader Rashid Alvi said that Pakistan needs to be given a “much better” response.
“Much better reply needs to be given. This is bare minimum. Our forces did what the government of India told them to do, but the question again arises. Was every single terrorist killed? Will there not be another Pahalgam? PM Modi had said that the remaining land of terrorists will be destroyed. If that has happened, then it is good,” Alvi told ANI.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Congress post drew criticism from many other BJP leaders.
Lahar Singh Siroya, BJP MP from Karnataka, said the Congress party had double standards and was unable to control its “sleeper cells” in the state.
“Congress is officially saying one thing in Delhi, and officially saying another thing in Bengaluru. Why can’t @INCIndia control its sleeper cells in @INCKarnataka? If they posted a nasty Wire interview just before #OperationSindhoor, after the operation, this morning, they appealed for peace misusing Gandhiji’s picture!!!” Siroya said in a post X.
The Karnataka unit of the Congress had posted the now-deleted message at least an hour before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar and other ministers from the state congratulated the Indian armed forces for the air strikes.
After the Pahalgam terrorist attacks, Siddaramaiah’s remarks that there was no need for India to wage war with Pakistan had come under attack.
This was followed by another member of his cabinet, R.B. Timmapur, questioning how the terrorists could have asked the religion of people before gunning them down.
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
Also read: At least 10 civilians killed in Pakistan shelling in J&K’s Poonch after Operation Sindoor
