Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday strongly pushed back against attempts to communalize the victims of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, firmly stating, “Bharatiye the” (They were Indians) in response to Lok Sabha MPs who identified the victims as “Hindus.”
Speaking during a special discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Congress general secretary criticized the BJP-led Central government’s response to the terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed 26 lives. She accused the government of shirking responsibility and exploiting national tragedies for political gain.
“The Union Home Minister mentioned my mother’s tears today,” Priyanka said. “Let me respond—my mother cried when terrorists killed my father. When I speak of those 26 victims, I do so because I truly understand their pain.”
She raised pointed questions about the lack of accountability and transparency surrounding the attack. “Yesterday, the Defence Minister gave a long speech, but not a single word on how the Pahalgam attack happened. Why is this government silent on such critical security failures?” she asked.
Priyanka Gandhi also accused the ruling party of politicizing grief and using diversions to escape accountability. “This government doesn’t want to face tough questions. Everything is turned into a political stunt or a PR exercise,” she said.
Responding to repeated BJP references to the Gandhi family, she said, “You always go back to history. Let’s talk about the present. You’ve ruled for 11 years—why do you still blame the past? Gaurav Gogoi asked the Home Minister a direct question—wasn’t this your responsibility? The Defence Minister nodded, but the Home Minister laughed. Is this how you treat national security?”
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)