'Do terrorists have time?: Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar's remarks on Pahalgam attack sparks row

Mumbai: Senior Congressman and former Maharashtra minister Vijay Wadettiwar sparked off a major controversy vis-a-vis the Pahalgam’ terrorist attack on tourists questioning the selective targeting of Hindus.

The leadership of MahaYuti-NDA including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena slammed Wadettiwar, who is the Congress Legislature Party leader and a former Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Assembly.

“The government should take responsibility for the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The government is saying that terrorists killed people after asking them about their religion. Do terrorists have time for all this? Some people say that this did not happen. Terrorists have no caste or religion. Catch those who are responsible and take action. This is the sentiment of the country,” Wadettiwar said.

However, later in a clarification, Wadettiwar said: “The main purpose of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam is to create a rift between two religions, disrupt the unity of India and create instability in the country. Strictest action should be taken against terrorists and those who support them.”

Reacting to the statement, Fadnavis described it as insensitive. “By making such a statement, he is rubbing salt into the wounds of the relatives of those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.

Everyone has shown what the relatives of the victims have said. The victims were killed in front of their relatives, and during that time, Wadettiwar was not present there,” he said, adding that he was at loss of words and wondering whether to call the statement foolish.

Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora said: “When Indians are killed by terrorists in Pahalgam, Maharashtra’s former Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar’s first instinct is to defend Pakistan—just like when he claimed that Pakistani bullets didn’t kill Hemant Karkare during 26/11. No wonder Indians see the opposition as a national security risk.”