Facing Flak Over Leaders' Remarks On Pahalgam, Congress Issues Statement: 'Do Not Reflect Party's Views'

The resolution comes amid reports that the Congress leadership directed its leaders to refrain from making public statements that do not align with the party's official line on the terror attack.

File photo of Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

Source : PTI

The Congress on Monday passed a resolution over the Pahalgam terror attack, saying that the party leaders who have been speaking to the media "speak for themselves" and do not reflect the party's view.

The resolution comes amid reports that the Congress leadership directed its leaders to refrain from making public statements that do not align with the party's official line on the deadly terror attack, which led to the deaths of 26 people.

The order came as several party leaders like Vijay Wadettiwar, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Shashi Tharoor, Tariq Hameed Karra and Saifuddin Soz that have triggered a row with their comments and the BJP alleging that some from the opposition party were speaking Pakistan's language. 

The Congress Working Committee had termed the Pahalgam attack masterminded by Pakistan as a direct assault on the values of our republic. It also called for a comprehensive examination of intelligence failures and security lapses. Both Kharge and Gandhi had expressed support for the government on whatever action it takes on the matter. 

Party leader Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X, said that the Congress Working Committee met on April 25 and passed a resolution that the leaders who speak to the media speak for themselves.

The Congress Working Committee had met on April 24th 2025 and passed a resolution on the brutal terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam two days earlier. Therafter on the evening of April 24th 2025 the Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha attended…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 28, 2025

"On April 25th 2025 the Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha attended the all-party meeting and put forward the party's views. Some Congress leaders have been speaking to the media. They speak for themselves and do not reflect the INC's views," Jairam Ramesh said. 

"There should be absolutely no doubt whatsoever at this most sensitive of times that the CWC resolution, the views expressed by Shri Mallikarjun Kharge and Shri Rahul Gandhi and the views of authorised AICC office-bearers ALONE represent the position of the INC," he added. 

Several reports on Monday said that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party MP Rahul Gandhi were upset over leaders speaking on their own, causing confusion.

The BJP also hit out at the grand old party over the remarks made by several Congress leaders over the Pahalgam attack. BJP leaders questioned whether Congress' call for national unity was genuine or merely perfunctory, citing comments from senior Congress members that, they alleged, are being exploited by Pakistan to defame India.

Former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad named a number of Congress leaders, including Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, senior Maharashtra leader Vijay Wadettiwar, Karnataka minister R B Timmapur and Gandhi's brother-in-law Robert Vadra, for their controversial comments to target the opposition party's leadership.