Why assume that they came from Pakistan: Chidambaram's remark on Pahalgam attackers sparks row
New Delhi: A political storm has erupted after senior Congress leader and former finance minister P. Chidambaram questioned the Union government’s narrative surrounding the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor.
In an interview with The Quint, Chidambaram questioned the assumption that the attackers were from Pakistan, arguing that the government has not shared sufficient information to support that claim. He suggested that the assailants could be homegrown, questioning the lack of evidence linking them to Pakistan.
"Have they identified the terrorists? Where they came from? I mean, for all we know, they could be homegrown terrorists. Why do you assume that they came from Pakistan? There's no evidence of that," he had said in the interview.
Highlighting the scattered nature of updates, Chidambaram pointed out that key information was being shared by different officers in various locations, rather than through a comprehensive statement from senior government officials like the Prime Minister or the Defence Minister.
Meanwhile, the saffron party has reacted sharply to his comments, accusing the Congress of undermining national security and echoing Pakistan’s narrative. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya posted on X, “Once again, the Congress rushes to give a clean chit to Pakistan, this time after the Pahalgam terror attack. Why is it that every time our forces confront Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Congress leaders sound more like Islamabad's defence lawyers than India's opposition?"
However, Chidambaram referred to the criticism as a "deliberate misinformation campaign" and mentioned that his comments were being misrepresented by selectively muting and clipping portions of his interview. “Trolls are of different kinds and use different tools to spread misinformation. The worst kind is a troll who suppresses the full recorded interview, takes two sentences, mutes some words, and paints the speaker in a black colour!” he wrote on X.
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PM Modi holds 14-km roadshow in Varanasi, offers prayers at Kashi Vishwanath temple
Varanasi (UP) (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Varanasi on Wednesday morning, the second day of his two-day visit, drawing large crowds along the route, party leaders said.
The roadshow commenced from Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) and passed through Lahartara, Kachahri, Ambedkar Chauraha, Chaukaghat, Teliyabag, Lahurabir and Maidagin before culminating at the Kashi Vishwanath Dham.
At the temple, the prime minister offered prayers and performed rituals amid Vedic chants. After completing the prayers, Modi was welcomed by local representatives, who presented him with a trishul, damru and a traditional stole. The prime minister acknowledged the gesture and greeted the gathering.
As he emerged from the temple complex, devotees raised slogans of "Har Har Mahadev", to which Modi responded by waving and folding his hands.
He also briefly interacted with children present at the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.
BJP media in-charge Arvind Mishra said people in Varanasi were eager to catch a glimpse of the prime minister, with a large number of party workers, office-bearers and local residents lining the entire route.
Devotees and supporters were seen raising slogans such as "Har Har Mahadev" and "Jai Shri Ram" to welcome the prime minister, who greeted them by waving and folding his hands.
Mishra said multiple welcome points had been set up along the route, where party workers and locals welcomed the prime minister with rose petals, drum beats and conch shells.
The roadshow, stretching around 14 kilometres, is being described by party leaders as one of the largest ever in the city.
Heavy crowds were seen on both sides of the roads throughout the route, officials said.
After the visit to Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, the PM is scheduled to inaugurate the Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh later on Wednesday.
