Mumbai: NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar ignited a debate on Friday by expressing uncertainty about whether the terrorists verified the religious identities of tourists before killing them during the Pahalgam incident in Kashmir on Wednesday. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis strongly responded, urging the veteran politician to meet the families of the victims.
While visiting Sindhudurg on Friday, he voiced his full backing for the central government's efforts to fight terrorism but refrained from identifying any shortcomings. Pawar visited the families of Pune residents Santosh Jagdale and Kaustubh Ganbote on Thursday to express his condolences.
Former defense minister Sharad Pawar pointed out that the perceived decrease in terrorism might be deceptive, referencing recent incidents that highlight ongoing issues that require attention. Speaking to the press, he mentioned the intelligence oversight concerning an attack in Pahalgam, an area that was previously deemed safe and where he had visited a few months prior.
Pawar emphasised the need to exercise caution, despite assertions of advancements in the fight against terrorism. Regarding speculation that attackers were verifying the religious affiliations of tourists during the event, he remarked that he could not confirm this and observed that the assailants appeared to have spared women.
He noted that two of the victims hailed from Pune and were visiting their families, stating that the sisters who were present during the attack reported they were unharmed. In response, Fadnavis urged Pawar to pay attention to the families of the victims, distancing himself from Pawar's remarks and underscoring the necessity for accurate information.
