Pahalgam Attack Orchestrated To Make Brother Fight Brother: Rahul Gandhi

SRINAGAR: Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that the Pahalgam carnage was orchestrated to pit brother against brother and divide India, urging the countrymen to stand united to defeat terrorism once and for all.

After meeting Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and one of the injured tourists in hospital, the Congress leader told reporters here, “It (Pahalgam terror attack) is to make brother fight brother and it is very important that every single Indian stands united and together so that we can defeat what the terrorists were trying to do. We have to fight their nasty actions and defeat terrorism once and for all.”

Calling Tuesday’s attack on tourists in Baisaran meadow near Kashmir’s premier resort of Pahalgam “a terrible tragedy”, Mr. Gandhi said that he came here “to get a sense of what is going on and to help”.

He said that the entire people of J&K have condemned this “terrible action”, and “they fully support the nation at this time (of grief). He said, “I met one of the injured persons. I, of course, could not meet other persons or families because they have gone back (to their homes). My love and affection to everybody who has lost family members, and I want everybody to know that the whole nation is standing together as one”.

He said, “We had a meeting yesterday with the government and the united opposition condemned this action and I said we are there to support whatever action the government wants to take”.

He said, “I also met the L-G and Chief Minister here, and they briefed me on what had happened (at Pahalgam) and I assured them that my party and I are going to support you fully”.

Reiterating that the idea behind what has happened (at Pahalgam) is to divide the society, he said, “It is very important that every single Indian stands united, stands together so that we can defeat what the terrorists were trying to do’.

Referring to attacks on Kashmiri students, traders and other professionals by organised mobs amid the calls for revenge in various parts of the country, the Congress leader said, “It is sad to see that some people are attacking my brothers and sisters from Kashmir in other parts of the country, and I think it is very important that all of us stand together, stand united and fight this nasty action that has been taken and defeat terrorism once and for all”.

After making a statement before the media persons, the Congress leader who was flanked by J&K PCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra, senior party leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir and others abruptly left the venue and did not take questions from them, leaving them disappointed.

Later in a post on ‘X’, Mr. Gandhi stressed, “At such times, it is extremely essential that every Indian remains united and stands together so that we can thwart the terrorists' conspiracy.”