Days after Excise Minister RB Timmapur questioned whether terrorists in the Pahalgam attack had identified victims’ religions before killing them, the Congress has told its leaders in Karnataka not to speak on the terror attack unless absolutely necessary. Speaking to reporters in Bagalkote, Timmapur had said, “Anyone who is about to shoot, will they be able to ask about caste [meaning religion]? You only think practically. He will shoot and then run away.”
He further added, “There were intelligence failures in Kargil, Pulwama and now again. When we question them [officials] about the Pahalgam attack, they say the terrorists looked at Hindu ID cards and then shot them. Did they not kill a Muslim too? If you politicise all this, where will the situation lead us?”
The minister’s comments drew sharp criticism online, with many pointing to widespread reports that the terrorists had deliberately targeted Hindus during the April 22 attack that killed 26 people. The wife of one of the victims from Shivamogga district had also said that her husband was shot after being identified by his religion.
Timmapur’s statement comes as the Congress government in Karnataka faces mounting criticism over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s earlier remark that India should avoid rushing into war with Pakistan. “There is no need to go to war. But we have to take strong actions and tighten security. We are not for war,” Siddaramaiah had said.
Social media platforms were soon flooded with reactions, including a clip from a Pakistani news channel discussing Siddaramaiah’s remarks. Several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders shared the segment, accusing the Chief Minister of being sympathetic towards Pakistan. Some sarcastically suggested that Siddaramaiah would receive a grand welcome if he visited the neighbouring country.
Adding to the political firestorm, Leader of the Opposition R Ashok said Siddaramaiah deserved to be awarded Pakistan’s highest civilian honour, Nishan-e-Pakistan, for acting like a "peace ambassador" for the country. “When the country faces a sensitive situation with a war threat looming, you behave like a puppet of an enemy nation. The presence of people like you in public life is the biggest tragedy of our country,” Ashok said.
Under pressure, Siddaramaiah sought to clarify his stance during an interaction with reporters in Mysuru. "What I said was that we should go to war only if it’s inevitable. War is not the solution at this time," he said.
Later, Siddaramaiah gave a detailed explanation, reiterating,“War should always be a nation’s last resort — never the first, nor the only option. Only when every other means to defeat the enemy has failed, should a country be compelled to go to war…” He also accused "mischievous elements" of attempting to exploit a national tragedy to sow division and disturb peace and unity within India.
Meanwhile, the Congress party maintained that there had been significant lapses in India's intelligence network, pointing out that the April 22 attack in Pahalgam took place despite prior warnings and that tourists lacked adequate security.