New Delhi: Congress leader and former Union Minister Saifuddin Soz has stirred controversy with his comments on the Pahalgam terror attack, drawing criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Amid growing national outrage over the brutal killing of 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran valley, Soz suggested that India should "accept Pakistan’s word" if Islamabad denies involvement.
The BJP quickly seized on Soz’s remarks, accusing the Congress party of siding with Pakistan and undermining India's position after the deadly terror strike.
Soz Calls for Acceptance of Pakistan's Denial
Speaking to news agency PTI, Saifuddin Soz said, “The Indus Water Treaty has survived wars between India and Pakistan. This water treaty is a lifeline for Pakistan. If Pakistan takes a stand that they are not involved in the Pahalgam attack, then we should accept Pakistan’s word.” Soz also warned that Jammu and Kashmir could face major flooding if waters meant for Pakistan were not properly diverted.
The Congress leader’s statement came in response to India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and other measures against Pakistan. Karnataka minister Santosh Lad echoed similar sentiments, questioning the logic behind cutting off Pakistan’s water supply, saying, “Shouldn’t Pakistanis have water, don’t they drink water?”
However, after facing heavy backlash, Soz tried to clarify his position. Speaking to News18, he said, “I did not say Pakistan should be believed… I said ultimately, we have to sort out matters with discussion and dialogue… my stand cannot be different from that of the PM.”
BJP Targets Congress
In response to Soz's statement, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya said, “He has most certainly exceeded even the expectations of the Pakistani deep state with such brazen advocacy.” He further attacked Congress leaders, alleging that their statements mirrored Pakistani propaganda.
The controversy comes amid a series of contentious remarks by Congress leaders following the Pahalgam attack. Robert Vadra, businessman and husband of Priyanka Gandhi, reportedly blamed "Hindutva" for the violence, while Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah attributed the tragedy to an "intelligence failure."
Other Congress leaders like Mani Shankar Aiyar, RB Timmapur, and Vijay Wadettiwar also made remarks that questioned the narrative around the terrorists targeting Hindus.
