'No proof yet on religion-based targeting': Deshmukh sparks row over Pahalgam attack
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Mumbai: Former Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP-SP leader Anil Deshmukh has stirred controversy with his remarks following the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 people, including six men from Maharashtra, lost their lives. Deshmukh called for a thorough investigation into unconfirmed reports suggesting that the gunmen asked the victims about their religion before opening fire—a claim that has heightened concerns over the potential communal motive behind the massacre.
Speaking on Wednesday, Deshmukh said, “Reports have emerged suggesting that the assailants questioned the victims about their religion before firing. There is no confirmed information on this. Only after investigation will we get to know the truth.” He emphasized that if these claims are verified, they expose a deeply disturbing and targeted form of hatred that must be unequivocally condemned. “Such brutality, if driven by communal hatred, marks a chilling escalation and should be addressed with utmost seriousness,” he added.
Despite his call for caution and due process, Deshmukh's remarks have triggered a wave of backlash on social media. Netizens accused the NCP-SP leader of being insensitive and downplaying the suffering of the victims. Several users pointed to the testimonies of grieving families who claimed the attackers selectively targeted individuals after questioning them about their faith. Critics alleged that Deshmukh’s statements amounted to tacit support for the terrorists and disregarded the emotional trauma endured by survivors and bereaved families.
Earlier, in a social media post shared on Tuesday, Deshmukh condemned the attack as a “cowardly and despicable act,” extending condolences to the families of the deceased and wishing a swift recovery to the injured. “The attack on unarmed tourists is shameful. We stand with the victims and their families in this hour of grief,” he wrote.
The attack, which occurred on April 22 in Baisaran Valley, a scenic location in Pahalgam frequented by tourists, has drawn nationwide outrage. The brutality of the incident has sparked urgent calls for swift justice, with citizens and political leaders demanding strong retaliation and a transparent investigation to bring the perpetrators to account.
