Rajya Sabha MP Ram Chander Jangra sparked a controversy after he stated that the women, who lost their husbands in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, "lacked" the spirit of the warrior women. He said the women should have put up a fight against the terrorists and should have acted like 'veerangna' (warrior women).
Congress has slammed BJP MP for the remarks and alleged that the party is so "intoxicated by power" that it has become insensitive. Instead of holding anyone accountable for the security lapse in the Pahalgam terror attack, its leaders are now questioning the martyrs and their widows, stated Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.
The BJP's Rajya Sabha MP from Haryana was addressing a gathering here in an event organised to mark the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar.
Twenty-six people were killed in the terror attack in Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on April 22.
What Did BJP MP Say?
Addressing the gathering, Jangra also said that the number of casualties would have been less had the tourists undergone the Agniveer training.
The BJP MP said that the women, who lost their husbands in the terror attack, "lacked" the spirit of the warrior women.
"'Wahan par jo hamari veerangnay behane thee, jinki maang ka sindoor chheen liya gaya, Veerangna ka bhaav nahin tha, josh nahin tha, jazba nahin tha, dil nahin tha, isliye haath jod ke goli ka shikaar ho gaye' (Women, who lost their husbands, did not have the spirit and vigour. Therefore, they became victims of the attack)," Jangra said.
"'Lekin haath jodne se koi chhodta nahin. Hamare aadmi vahan par haath jodkar maare gaye. (Terrorists do not leave one with requests. Our people died with folded hands)," he added.
The BJP MP said had the women, who lost their husbands in the attack, read Holkar's history then nobody would have killed their husbands in this way in front of them.
"'Agar yaatri training pass kiye hote, to teen ugarvaadi 26 logon ko nahin mar sakte the' (Had our tourists passed the training then three terrorists could not have killed 26 people)," he said.
Referring to the Agniveer scheme, the BJP MP said had each tourist undergone Agniveer training, they could have surrounded the terrorists and casualties would have been less.
Jangra later said that the tourists should have put up a fight against the terrorists.
"'Bilkul ladna chahihye tha. Aur agar ladte, to kam shahadat hoti aur kam log maare jaate. Haath jodne se kaun chhodta hai? Wo to maarne ke liye aaye the...Vo to aatankvaadi the. Unke dil mein daya thodi thee. (Had they (tourists) fought, the casualties would have been less. They -- terrorists -- had come with an intention to kill people. They did not have mercy)," Jangra said while responding to a question later.
Opposition Reacts
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has slammed both the saffron party and its leaders as he claimed that they have repeatedly insulted the Indian Army and martyred soldiers, as he called it a reflection of their "petty and degrading mindset".
Ramesh in a post on X referred to a recent controversial remark by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ramchandra Jangra and called it shameful. He alleged that, "the BJP, intoxicated with power, has become so insensitive that instead of blaming the security lapse for the sacrifice of the soldiers martyred in the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the BJP MPs are raising questions on the martyrs and their wives."
He also pointed out "No action has been taken against leaders like Vijay Shah and Devda till date 바카라 now this new statement is highly objectionable."
Ramesh further questioned "Why should the silence of Prime Minister Modi and the BJP leadership not be considered a tacit acceptance of these statements? Our clear demand is - Prime Minister Modi should apologize for this shameful statement and expel MP Ramchandra Jangra from the party. "
Congress바카라s social media head, Supriya Shrinate also condemned the remarks and stated, 바카라BJP MP Ramchandra Jangra is talking about the women who lost their husbands in the Pahalgam attack. 바카라She did not have the spirit of a warrior. She did not have passion, she did not have zeal, she did not have heart. That's why they folded their hands and became a victim of the bullet바카라."
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav strongly condemned Ramchandra Jangra바카라s remarks, calling them deeply offensive and unacceptable.
In a post on X, he wrote, 바카라Even the word 'condemnable' would object to being used for such a disgusting statement by the BJP MP about the victimised women of Pahalgam. Instead of honoring women, the BJP chooses to insult, blame, exploit, and harass them in every possible way바카라this is their true face, and it is both shameful and revolting.바카라
He further added, 바카라The BJP is not a political party, but a cesspool of anti-women mentality.바카라
