Congress MP Tariq Anwar hails Pulwama plotter Hamza Burhan's killing in PoK
Synopsis
Congress MP Tariq Anwar called the reported killing of Hamza Burhan — a designated Al Badr terrorist and alleged Pulwama attack planner — in PoK's Muzaffarabad 'good news,' arguing that Pakistan's role as a safe haven for terror is catching up with its own proxies. The statement came alongside Congress's defence of Rahul Gandhi's 'traitor' remark and Anwar's commentary on youth discontent fuelling the viral Cockroach Janata Party phenomenon.
Key Takeaways
Congress MP Tariq Anwar welcomed the killing of Hamza Burhan , a designated Al Badr terrorist and alleged Pulwama attack planner, by unknown gunmen in Muzaffarabad, PoK on 21 May .
The Indian government had designated Burhan under the UAPA in 2022 , identifying him as a resident of Pulwama aged 23 .
Anwar defended Rahul Gandhi's 'traitor' remark against PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah , calling it a reflection of reality.
The satirical Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has crossed 14 million Instagram followers , reportedly surpassing both the BJP and Congress on the platform; its X account has been withheld in India.
West Bengal handed over 27 kilometres of land to the BSF on Wednesday for fencing along the Bangladesh border; Anwar backed the move.
Congress MP Tariq Anwar on Wednesday, 21 May welcomed reports that Hamza Burhan, identified as one of the key planners of the Pulwama terror attack, had been shot dead by unknown gunmen in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Burhan was reportedly shot multiple times in the targeted killing.
Who Was Hamza Burhan
The Indian government, while designating Burhan as a terrorist in 2022, described him as: Arjumand Gulzar Dar, alias Hamza Burhan, alias Doctor, aged 23 years, a resident of Kharbatpora, Ratnipora, Pulwama, and an associate member of Al Badr — a terrorist outfit proscribed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Al Badr has long been linked to cross-border militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
What Anwar Said
Reacting to the reported killing, Anwar said: 'Terrorism should be eliminated. This is good news for us because terrorists are being killed in Pakistan which provides a safe haven for terrorism.' The Congress leader framed the incident as a broader signal that those responsible for attacks on Indian soil were facing consequences, even across the border.
Congress Defends Rahul Gandhi's 'Traitor' Remark
Anwar also defended Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's recent characterisation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah as 'traitors.' He said: 'Rahul Gandhi has put the reality forward. Traitor means one who does not work towards the welfare of the country.' Reiterating Gandhi's position, Anwar added: 'On one hand he (PM Modi) is appealing to citizens not to travel abroad and save gold, on the other he himself is touring across countries. Obviously, people will have a problem with it.'
Cockroach Janata Party and Youth Discontent
Anwar also weighed in on the viral satirical movement Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), whose account on social media platform X has been withheld in India. The digital satire outfit emerged after controversy over remarks attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a court hearing on 15 May, in which he allegedly referred to unemployed youth as cockroaches. Anwar said the CJP's rapid growth reflects deep dissatisfaction among young Indians over unemployment and inflation, and pointed to what he called the 'spoiled atmosphere' resulting from the 'wrong policies' of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government. Notably, the CJP has crossed 14 million followers on Instagram, reportedly surpassing the follower counts of both the BJP and the Congress on that platform.
Bengal BSF Fencing: Congress Extends Support
In a separate development, Anwar extended Congress's support to the West Bengal government's decision to hand over land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for fencing along unfenced stretches of the border with Bangladesh. The land-transfer process formally commenced on Wednesday, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announcing at the state secretariat that around 27 kilometres of land had been officially handed over to the BSF. The move is aimed at plugging gaps in border security infrastructure along one of India's most porous frontiers.
Point of View
It hands the Congress a rare moment of alignment with the government's counter-terror narrative — welcoming the elimination of a UAPA-designated militant on Pakistani soil is not a posture the opposition adopts often. Second, the same press interaction bundled three unrelated threads — the Pulwama killing, Rahul Gandhi's 'traitor' remark, and a satirical Instagram account — suggesting the Congress is trying to hold multiple opposition lanes simultaneously. The CJP's 14-million-follower count on Instagram deserves scrutiny: social media reach does not equal political mobilisation, but it does signal a real and restless youth constituency that neither the BJP nor Congress is currently capturing. On the Bengal BSF fencing, Anwar's support is notable given the TMC government's historically fraught relationship with the BSF — Congress backing the move signals a calibrated distancing from TMC on border security optics.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hamza Burhan and why is he linked to the Pulwama attack?
Hamza Burhan, also known as Arjumand Gulzar Dar, was a resident of Pulwama designated as a terrorist under India's UAPA in 2022 for his alleged role as an associate member of Al Badr, a proscribed militant outfit. He was identified by Indian authorities as one of the key planners behind the Pulwama terror attack.
Where was Hamza Burhan killed?
Hamza Burhan was reportedly shot multiple times by unknown gunmen in Muzaffarabad, the main city of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The circumstances of the killing and the identity of the assailants have not been officially confirmed.
What did Congress MP Tariq Anwar say about the killing?
Anwar called the killing 'good news,' stating that 'terrorism should be eliminated' and that terrorists being killed in Pakistan — which he described as a safe haven for terrorism — was a welcome development for India.
What is the Cockroach Janata Party and why is its X account withheld in India?
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) is a digital satirical movement that went viral after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant allegedly referred to unemployed youth as cockroaches during a court hearing on 15 May. Its account on X has been withheld in India, though the reasons have not been officially detailed. It has crossed 14 million followers on Instagram.
Why did West Bengal hand over land to the BSF?
The West Bengal government began transferring land to the Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday to facilitate fencing along unfenced stretches of the border with Bangladesh. Around 27 kilometres of land was officially handed over, as announced by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
