After MP Minister Vijay Shah, another BJP leader makes shocking comment on Pahalgam terror attack, says, 'victims should have...'

The Congress on Sunday objected strongly to BJP MP Ram Chander Jangra's remarks that tourists should have put up a fight against terrorists in Pahalgam, demanding his sacking and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's apology in the matter. The Prime Minister’s and the BJP leadership’s silence should be seen as a “tacit approval” of Mr Jangra’s statement, said the opposition party. Its chief Mallikarjun Kharge claimed BJP leaders were competing with each other to malign the Pahalgam victims and the armed forces.

Mr Jangra's comments are being seen by the Congress as the latest in a series of deplorable remarks made recently by BJP leaders — Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah and the State's deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda.

While the Congress claimed that Mr Devda had said the entire Indian Army and brave soldiers were bowing at the feet of Mr Modi, Mr Shah had to apologise after his remarks linking the religion of terrorists behind the Pahalgam strike with that of Col Sofiya Qureshi triggered an outrage. Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh briefed the media, alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, on Operation Sindoor.

Chiding the BJP in a post in Hindi on X, Mr Kharge said, "BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ram Chander Jangra's shameful statement has once again exposed the petty mentality of RSS-BJP."

"MP Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda insulted our brave army, but PM Modi did not take any action. MP Minister Vijay Shah made lewd comments on our brave colonel, but has not been sacked to date," he said. In the long post, he noted that when the wife of the naval officer killed in Pahalgam was being trolled on social media, "Modi ji was silent even then".

"Narendra Modi ji, you say that you have sindoor in your veins... If that is so, then you should sack these foul-mouthed leaders of yours for the respect of women," Mr Kharge added.

Echoing the party chief's sentiments, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that BJP leaders were constantly insulting the Indian Army and the martyrs, "which exposes their petty and lowly mindset".

"This shameful statement of Jangra shows that the BJP, intoxicated with power, has become so insensitive that instead of blaming the security lapse... in Pahalgam... BJP MPs are questioning the martyrs and their wives," Mr Ramesh said in a post on X. Claiming the BJP has taken no action against Mr Shah and Mr Devda, he said the new statement is "highly objectionable."

(This story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published from news agency PTI).