Lagatar24 Desk
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah faced massive backlash after his remarks on the India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack. Although Siddaramaiah later clarified that he “never said we should not go to war”, the controversy escalated, especially after Pakistani media praised his comments, calling them “voices against war from within India”.
Clarification From Siddaramaiah
In a clarification issued today, Siddaramaiah said:
“I never said we should never go to war with Pakistan, I just said war is not the solution.”
He added that if war becomes inevitable, “we must go to war.” He also blamed the central government for failing to ensure tourist security during the attack.
BJP’s Sharp Response
The BJP launched a blistering attack, branding Siddaramaiah as “Pakistan Ratna”.
Sharing a clip from Geo News highlighting Siddaramaiah’s remarks, Karnataka BJP chief B.Y. Vijayendra posted:
“Big cheers for Wazir-e-Ala Siddaramaiah from across the Borders! Pakistani media is praising him while India stands united against terror.”
Referring to history, Vijayendra compared Siddaramaiah to Nehru, stating how Nehru’s signing of the Indus Water Treaty had once been celebrated in Pakistan.
Former Karnataka CM B.S. Yediyurappa also condemned Siddaramaiah’s statement, calling it “highly condemnable and childish.”
“He should apologise to the people of the country and mend his ways,” Yediyurappa said.
Congress Distances Itself
The Congress party tried to distance itself, with leader HR Srinath calling it a “personal statement” and not the party’s stand.
“If he wants to make such statements, he should resign from his position,” Srinath said.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar declined to comment directly on Siddaramaiah’s remarks, reaffirming Congress’s general condemnation of the Pahalgam attack.
Background: Pahalgam Terror Attack
The April 22 terror strike in Baisaran valley, Pahalgam, left 25 tourists and a local Kashmiri pony ride operator dead.
The gruesome attack drew widespread condemnation across India, prompting the government to:
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Suspend the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan
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Halt visa services for Pakistani nationals
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Tighten security measures across the country
Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed that the perpetrators and their supporters would be “punished in a way they cannot even imagine.”
“From Kargil to Kanyakumari, the nation is grieving and enraged,” he said.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also assured the government’s full support for any retaliatory action, emphasizing national unity.
