'Not Immediately...': Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Clarifies 'War With Pakistan' Remark After Backlash

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday issued a clarification on his "war with Pakistan" remark in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. 

A day earlier, he stirred a controversy by saying the terrorist attack in Pahalgam where 26 civilians were killed was a result of intelligence failure and added there was no need for a war with Pakistan. 

However, after facing backlash, the Karnataka CM issued a clarification stating that the war is inevitable. 

"...I said that it (war) is inevitable, but it must be done with Pakistan, but I did not say that there should be no war. It is the responsibility of the central government to provide security, 26 people died in the incident... I said there should not be a war immediately...," he said. 

Siddaramaiah Sparks Controversy 

On Saturday Siddaramaiah said that there was no need for a war with Pakistan but strict measures should be taken. 

“They (the Indian government) should be more alert. This is an intelligence failure, a security failure. There is no need for war now. But strict measures must be taken. Security measures must be tightened. We are not for war," he had then told reporters.

The Bharatiya Janata Party slammed the CM's remark as “highly condemnable" and “shameful" and accused him of giving clean chit to Pakistan and justifying their acts of terrorism.

“It is the misfortune of Karnataka that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has 40 years of vast political experience and has served as Chief Minister twice, lacks the basic sense of when and what to speak," said Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.

“Our country has a professional armed force. It is left to the responsibility, expertise, and experience of our military to determine what action needs to be taken in any situation. In this regard, your advice is unnecessary, and you do not have the qualifications to offer any," he added. 

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