Why Did the Congress Government in Karnataka Delete Its Peace Message After 'Operation Sindoor'?

Synopsis
The Congress-led Karnataka government faced backlash after posting a peace message during 'Operation Sindoor', leading to its swift deletion. This incident raises questions about political messaging amid military actions. Explore the reactions and implications of their communications in this article.
Key Takeaways
- The Congress party faced backlash for a peace message amid military actions.
- The post was deleted within an hour of sharing.
- Public reactions highlighted contradictions in the party's stance.
- Key leaders expressed support for the Indian Armed Forces.
- Political messaging can significantly impact public perception.
Bengaluru, May 7 (NationPress) The Congress-led Karnataka government issued a message advocating for peace amid the backdrop of 'Operation Sindoor', but swiftly removed it after receiving significant backlash.
The party shared a quote from Mahatma Gandhi along with a poster emphasizing that peace is humanity's most powerful weapon.
However, the post was taken down within an hour due to criticism.
In response, Karnataka State Congress President and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar expressed admiration for the Indian Army's efforts in 'Operation Sindoor' and conveyed solidarity with the Central government. This was quickly followed by a more detailed message from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who commended the courage of the Indian Armed Forces.
CM Siddaramaiah asserted that there is no tolerance for terror on Indian soil.
Following these statements from the CM and Dy CM, numerous users criticized the Congress party's previous peace message, especially as the Indian Army conducted operations against terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, which resulted in 26 casualties.
Users reacted to the leaders' endorsements of 'Operation Sindoor' by sharing images of the now-deleted peace message and commenting, "Did you forget what you posted?", "Congress is mourning the death of terrorists", and "The Congress party has forgotten nationalism".
Other comments included, "If Pakistan is bombed, they think the bombs are dropped on them", "You are welcome to move to Pakistan", and "This is the same party that once demanded proof of the surgical strikes. Today, when the Indian Armed Forces are acting against the enemy country, it posts a peace message for vote bank politics."
Many mocked the Congress party for its retracted peace message. One user remarked, "You put up a peace message and delete it after backlash - we like the fear in you." Others directly challenged the Congress leaders for their praise of the strike: "It seems you wanted peace."