Bawankule termed the Congress leader's remark as very "shameful" and "insensitive" stating that PM Modi will teach a "lesson" to Pakistan
Chandrashekhar Bawankule. File Pic
Maharashtra BJP president and minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday criticised Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar's statement on the Pahalgam terror attack, reported news agency ANI.
Wadettiwar had sparked a row with his statement "do terrorists have time to ask about religion?"
Bawankule termed the Congress leader's remark as very "shameful" and "insensitive" stating that PM Modi will teach a "lesson" to Pakistan.
#WATCH | Nagpur: On Vijay Wadettiwar's statement on Pahalgam terror attack, Maharashtra minister and state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule says, "He has made an insensitive, very shameless statement regarding the Pahalgam attack. He has no right to make such a statement. Modi… pic.twitter.com/yHO8hgf15V
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2025
"He has made an insensitive, very shameless statement regarding the Pahalgam terror attack. He has no right to make such a statement. Modi ji will teach Pakistan a good lesson. In such a situation, the whole country stands with Modi ji...", Bawankule told reporters in Nagpur.
"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 in his statement.
However, as the matter began to heat up, Wadettiwar released a video stating that terrorists' actions aimed to "make the country unstable" and incite division between religions.
"If they (terrorists) asked religion, then this was done to make the country unstable, to create conflict between the two communities. Terrorists asked people to read 'Kalma'. This is Pakistan's politics to hurt our country. Hindu-Muslim communities should not be divided over this. Terrorists have no religion. Their only aim is to destroy the country", the Congress leader said in a video released by his office.
He reaffirmed Congress's support for any action the central government decides to take against Pakistan in response to the attack. "We believe that the guides and drivers in Kashmir who helped tourists have shown humanity by leaving religion and caste behind. Congress will stand together with the government on any measures they take," he said
The terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killed 26 people, including one Nepali citizen, and targeted tourists. Following the attack, India has taken strong measures against Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hit out at the senior Congress leader over his remarks and said that such statements "add insult to injury" for the family members of the victims, who were killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.
"Such statements add insult to injury for those who have lost their relatives. We all have seen what the family members of the victims have said. They were killed before them, and they have said this," Fadnavis said.
