Pahalgam attackers wouldn't have asked for religion: Karnataka Congress' Thimmapur

Bagalkot/Hubballi: “The perpetrators of the attack in Pahalgam would not have asked the name and the religion of victims. It is unfair to target a particular religion over the attack,” Excise Minister R B Thimmapur said on Saturday.

The minister said this despite the wife of a victim from Shivamogga, who watched helplessly as her husband was shot dead, claiming that the terrorists asked the name and religion before shooting the male tourists. Several eyewitnesses to the horrific attack also said that the terrorists questioned victims’ about their name and religion before targeting non-Muslims.

“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 intelligence failure. Kargil, Pulwama and now Pahalgam are the result of central intelligence failure,” Thimmapur told reporters in Bagalkot.

“The BJP has been playing politics over deaths. They don’t refrain from furthering their political cause even when the nation is in distress,” he charged.

‘CM’s remarks irresponsible’

Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Arvind Bellad expressed strong disapproval over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s recent remarks regarding the terror attack in Pahalgam. Bellad said if the CM and Congress leaders are justifying the actions of terrorists by saying they did not shoot in the name of religion, it indicates that there is no difference between the terrorists and the Congress party.

Speaking to reporters in Hubballi on Saturday, Bellad criticised CM Siddaramaiah for speaking in favour of Muslims. “When Pakistan-backed terrorists launched attacks on the country, the CM spoke in favour of Muslims. When it comes to national security, there should be no consideration of religion or caste. CM’s childish statement about what Muslims in the state might think if a war breaks out with Pakistan is irresponsible,” Bellad said.

“AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge has expressed full support for the government’s stance on Pakistan. However, it is absurd that ministers from his own party, Santosh Lad and Priyank Kharge, are speaking against it,” Bellad concluded.