New Delhi: ‘Dharm pooccha, jaati nahi…yaad rakhenge (asked about religion, not caste…will remember)’—a social media post by Chhattisgarh BJP, appended with a Ghiblified version of a newly-married woman sitting next to her husband killed in Pahalgam, has triggered a political row with the Opposition slamming the ruling party for looking for ‘aapda mein bhi avasar’, or opportunity in adversity.
At least 26 people were killed and several others injured in what was one of the deadliest terror attacks in the Kashmir Valley. The attack at Baisaran Valley, a popular destination visited by hundreds of tourists on horseback daily, came at a time when US Vice President J.D. Vance is in India on a four-day visit.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav termed the BJP’s ‘X’ post a “childish advertisement” on the extremely painful tragedy of Jammu and Kashmir and said this proves that BJP leaders have “zero sympathy for those who have lost their lives and whose families are in deep sorrow”. “Even if BJP removes this advertisement, even its staunch supporters will not forgive this sin. BJP always looks for opportunities for its power and politics in disasters. BJP is not close to anyone except its own power,” he said in a post on ‘X’.
“It is a request to the insensitive BJP members that after understanding the pain of the families who have lost their loved ones, at least the security of the country should not be made a mere slogan. This is a time of immense sorrow, the BJP should not commit the misdeed of denying it with ostentatious meetings and false sentiments,” Akhilesh added, pointing out that if the BJP government had learnt a lesson from the previous attacks, then such attacks could have been prevented.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate accused the BJP of looking for ‘aapda mai avsar’ or opportunities in adversity. “Wait for the corpses to cool down vultures. Someone’s entire life has been destroyed— and you’re thinking of cartoons. Are you looking for opportunities even in this disaster,” Shrinate posted on ‘X’.
Earlier, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) had issued a statement condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, and said that terror has a religion. Senior BJP leader and MP Nishikant Dubey said Articles 26 to 29 of the Constitution, which pertain to freedom to manage religious affairs and cultural and educational rights of minorities, should be scrapped.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: Pahalgam attack: Terrorists armed with AK-47, M4 carbines targeted tourists in 40-min rampage
