Congress calls for ‘collective resolve’ to teach Pakistan a lesson

A day after Congress retracted from its ‘gayab’ social media post on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Pahalgam terror attack, the grand-old-party on Wednesday called for “cohesiveness" and “collective resolve" for the country to “teach Pakistan a lesson it will never forget".

The party’s MP and senior leader Jairam Ramesh said, “This is a time for unity and solidarity. This is a time for demonstrating a collective resolve to teach Pakistan a lesson it will never forget."

“On the night of April 22 itself, Congress had asked for an all-party meeting. The meeting was held two days later but was not attended by the PM," Ramesh said.

Yesterday, the Congress took down its social media post targeting PM Modi, saying he was missing in action during the all-party meet to discuss the terror attack in J&K’s Pahalgam.

The post put up by Congress on its X handle on Monday had sparked the latest political row, with the BJP countering it with a ‘backstabber’ post that accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of colluding with Pakistan. Earlier, a post shared by Congress with a caption,"Zimmedari Ke Samay Gayab" was re-shared by former Pakistan information and broadcasting minister Fawad Chaudhry.

However, Congress leader Ramesh today said, “The CWC resolution of April 24 is absolutely clear. The INC and other Opposition parties have also called for a special session of Parliament." The party has also urged its leadership and cadre to maintain “utmost discipline" and “consistency" in public communication.

As the party expressed its support to the government in action against Pakistan, it also referred to BJP’s role during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, when Congress-led UPA was in power in the country.

“But what did the BJP do on November 28, 2008 — just two days after the deadly terror attacks began in Mumbai? In a brazenly unprecedented move, the then Gujarat CM went to Mumbai and, in an act of grandstanding, addressed the media. The BJP also issued an awful advertisement that very day in the newspapers. This is history," said Ramesh.

He added, “Let us now be cohesive at this most sensitive time. The country is waiting."

India