Is Rahul Gandhi the Only National Leader to Visit Pahalgam and Poonch?

New Delhi, May 24 (NationPress) Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera praised Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha and Congress MP, for traveling to Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district to meet families impacted by the recent cross-border shelling from Pakistan.

“In the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Rahul Gandhi was the sole national leader to visit. He toured the hospitals, interacted with various civil society representatives, and sought to understand the plight of those affected. Now, in Poonch, where innocent civilians lost their lives due to the shelling, he has shown up to express solidarity and comprehend their suffering,” Pawan Khera stated in an interview with IANS.

The Poonch sector has faced intensified artillery and mortar shelling following India's Operation Sindoor, a series of precision strikes launched on May 7, targeting nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. These actions were a direct response to the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which resulted in numerous civilian fatalities.

Khera stressed the need for political leaders from all parties to take a cue from Rahul Gandhi’s initiative.

“Whether it's Manipur, Poonch, or Pahalgam — wherever citizens find themselves in distress, political leadership should step in to provide support and help heal their wounds,” he emphasized.

Reacting to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent comments in Berlin about India's zero tolerance for terrorism and refusal to succumb to nuclear blackmail, Khera questioned the effectiveness of the current government's foreign policy.

“What Jaishankar conveys on international platforms holds little weight if we cannot persuade key global powers to recognize that Pakistan continues to harbor terrorists. He adopts a tough stance here, yet remains silent before the US and China. He claims China has a more significant economy, so we can’t act decisively — then why assume that role if we fear confrontation?” Khera challenged.

“The Pakistani government and military collaborate closely with terror groups. There’s no separation between the two. The real question is whether our foreign policy can convince the global community to acknowledge this openly. That would represent a significant diplomatic victory,” he added.

Khera also addressed recent allegations concerning donations to the National Herald by D.K. Shivakumar, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, and accusations against Telangana's Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, allegedly made by the Enforcement Directorate.

“They will attempt to keep the media occupied with these distractions. However, we will not be sidetracked. This is a strategy to divert attention whenever we pose questions in the national interest. We remain focused on the pressing issues,” he told IANS.

Commenting on the Congress party's position during Operation Sindoor, Khera highlighted that the party had suspended all political activities in support of national security efforts.

“During Operation Sindoor, we stood united with the government. Yet, the BJP ridiculed us, demonstrating that they prioritize politics over national unity. Now that the operation has concluded, they have reverted to their usual petty politics,” he remarked.

“This is a moment to honor the bravery of our armed forces while also holding the government accountable — and that is precisely what we are doing.”

Khera also criticized the ongoing 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting, which revolves around the theme 'Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat @2047', has been met with skepticism.

“Why discuss 2047 now? They frequently introduce new slogans. In 2022, they pledged to double farmers' income — not only did they fail, but economic distress has intensified. The reality is that the BJP government is no longer taken seriously. These meetings are merely token gestures,” he concluded.