'They were Bharatiyas': Priyanka Gandhi counters MP's 'Hindus killed' remark in Pahalgam debate
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
on Tuesday locked horns with several MPs in Lok Sabha over the identity of the
Pahalgam terror attack
victims, countering repeated interruptions during day two of the discussion on the April 22 attack.
During her speech, the Wayanad MP said she would read out the names of the 25 victims of the attack. However, as she began reading them aloud, she was repeatedly interrupted by MPs shouting 'Hindu'.
She countered each interjection with the word 'Bhartiya'.
'I wish to read out the names of those 25 Indians in this House, so that every member sitting here realises that they too were human beings like us, not mere pawns in some political game.
They too were sons of this nation. They too are martyrs of this country. We all have a responsibility towards their families; they have the right to know the truth,' she said.
Priyanka also criticised the government's response to the Pahalgam attack. 'Most of the people who are sitting in this House today have a security cover. But on that day in Pahalgam, 26 people were killed in front of their families. All those people present in Baisaran Valley had no security.
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No matter how many operations you conduct, you cannot hide behind the truth.'
Attacking the Union home minister, she said, 'The home minister stated that Pakistan had no choice but to seek refuge. The question is—why did you grant them refuge? Terrorists come to our country, kill people, and you are providing them shelter. Why have you not addressed this in any of your speeches?'
She went on to accuse the government of using diversionary tactics: 'As soon as the issue of refuge was raised, the Home Minister delved into history—from Nehru ji, Indira ji, to even my mother's tears.
But he did not answer the question of why there was a ceasefire, why the war was halted.'
Gandhi also targeted the government for its lack of accountability: 'This government always tries to escape questions. They have no sense of responsibility towards the citizens of the nation. The truth is that they have no place for the public in their heart. For them, everything is politics, publicity…'
The Congress leader's remarks came amid a heated debate where Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also criticised the government for allegedly stepping back after
Operation Sindoor
and questioned why US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire, not the Indian government.
The debate surrounding Operation Sindoor has drawn strong reactions from the Opposition, demanding clarity from the Centre on the reasons for halting military operations after the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26.
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