NEW DELHI: The Congress party came under intense criticism on Sunday as Karnataka minister TB Thimmapur said he "personally didn't think" terrorists ascertained the religion of the victims before killing them in Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22.
Despite the family members of the victims claiming that terrorists opened fire at those who were Hindus, the Congress leader said religious colour was given to the massacre to "cover up intelligence failure".
"I personally don't think the assailants would have asked the name and religion of the tourists...It is not just to add religious colour to cover up an intelligence failure," Thimmapur was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
The BJP unleashed a piercing attack on the Congress over the minister's remark, saying the party has been "playing good cop, bad cop" and that Thimmapur's comment was an "insult to the victims".
"Congress is playing 'good cop, bad cop'. On one hand, in the all-party meeting, they say that they will fully support. On the other hand, they make their leaders give statements which insult the victims and give cover fire to Pakistan. They all know that the terror masters of Pakistan have carried out this terrorist attack in Pahalgam... Congress leaders of Karnataka say that the terrorists did not ask about religion. This is an insult to the statements of the victim," said BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari.
Bhandari further alleged that Congress was trying to give a clean chit to Pakistan like it did after the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.
"All this proves that just like after 26/11, the Congress party was trying every possible way to give a clean chit to Pakistan, under the same policy, today they are trying to give a clean chit to Pakistan... This is not the time for politics, this is the time when the country has to be united... The country is united and it knows that under the leadership of PM Modi, we will give a befitting reply to Pakistan," Bhandari said.
Earlier in the day, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah clarified his remarks suggesting there was "no need for war" with Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
"I mentioned that war is inevitable but must be with Pakistan. I did not say there should be no war at all. It is the central government’s responsibility to ensure security. In the Pahalgam incident, 26 people lost their lives. I only said there should not be an immediate war," Siddaramaiah told ANI.
The controversy erupted after Siddaramaiah, while speaking in Mysuru on Saturday, stated that India should not rush into war with Pakistan and instead focus on strengthening security measures.
Despite the family members of the victims claiming that terrorists opened fire at those who were Hindus, the Congress leader said religious colour was given to the massacre to "cover up intelligence failure".
"I personally don't think the assailants would have asked the name and religion of the tourists...It is not just to add religious colour to cover up an intelligence failure," Thimmapur was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
The BJP unleashed a piercing attack on the Congress over the minister's remark, saying the party has been "playing good cop, bad cop" and that Thimmapur's comment was an "insult to the victims".
"Congress is playing 'good cop, bad cop'. On one hand, in the all-party meeting, they say that they will fully support. On the other hand, they make their leaders give statements which insult the victims and give cover fire to Pakistan. They all know that the terror masters of Pakistan have carried out this terrorist attack in Pahalgam... Congress leaders of Karnataka say that the terrorists did not ask about religion. This is an insult to the statements of the victim," said BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari.
Bhandari further alleged that Congress was trying to give a clean chit to Pakistan like it did after the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.
"All this proves that just like after 26/11, the Congress party was trying every possible way to give a clean chit to Pakistan, under the same policy, today they are trying to give a clean chit to Pakistan... This is not the time for politics, this is the time when the country has to be united... The country is united and it knows that under the leadership of PM Modi, we will give a befitting reply to Pakistan," Bhandari said.
Earlier in the day, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah clarified his remarks suggesting there was "no need for war" with Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
"I mentioned that war is inevitable but must be with Pakistan. I did not say there should be no war at all. It is the central government’s responsibility to ensure security. In the Pahalgam incident, 26 people lost their lives. I only said there should not be an immediate war," Siddaramaiah told ANI.
The controversy erupted after Siddaramaiah, while speaking in Mysuru on Saturday, stated that India should not rush into war with Pakistan and instead focus on strengthening security measures.
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