New Delhi: Targetting Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Friday claimed that had the civilians killed in Jammu and Kashmir been from any community other than “Hindu”, the area would have become a site for political tourism.


“Despite being from the scheduled tribe/scheduled castes, those who were killed were Hindus. If only they belonged to some other community, the area would have become a ground for political tourism like Lakhimpur Kheri,” he commented, as quoted by news agency ANI.


ALSO READ | Lakhimpur Kheri Violence: Union Minister's Son Ashish Mishra Remanded In 2-Day Police Custody


The Union Minister directly hit at Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as he alleged: “Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi did not visit the homes of those killed in Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists because they belonged to the Hindu community”.


In his tirade against the opposition leaders, Giriraj Singh further said it is unfortunate for the country that “tourism, sympathy, politics are done by copying others”.


Meanwhile, he also termed the recent targetted killings of civilians in Jammu & Kashmir as “cowardly”, saying: “Pakistan and the supporters of Pakistan who live there do not like peace and have killed the innocent. For us (BJP), only one thing is of concern, for peace to prevail in Jammu and Kashmir”, ANI reported.


The Union Minister for Rural Development was also asked if Congress, with the recent claims by Priyanka Gandhi during the ‘Pratigya Yatra’, would be able to garner votes in the upcoming Assembly elections. He responded by saying, “Congress has been making fake promises over the past 75 years. They made the bad situations worse. (Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister) Yogi Adityanath has patched up the bad they did, now what is the use of fake promises?”


The remarks come after the total number of victims in targetted civilian attacks in Jammu and Kashmir reached 11 last week after four more non-locals were shot dead.


Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had on Wednesday met the family of Arun Valmiki, a sanitation worker, who died in police custody in Uttar Pradesh after he was arrested in connection with a theft of Rs 25 lakh from a Malkhana (warehouse) on October 19.


She sought a high-level probe and strict action against the “guilty” personnel of Agra Police.


Before this, both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka had met the family of farmer Lovepreet, one of the four farmers killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, at the Chaukhada farm in Palia. They also met the family of journalist Raman Kashyap, who was also among the eight victims of the incident.