During a visit to Poonch in May, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had asked local party workers to identify the children who were affected by the cross-shelling in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. After his request, a detailed survey was carried out, and the names of the children were confirmed using official records, a report by The Indian Express said.
Now, Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Hamid Karra has revealed that Gandhi will take responsibility for helping 22 children from Poonch. These children lost both their parents or the only earning member of their family in the shelling that followed the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. Gandhi will cover all their educational expenses, offering some relief and support to families who have suffered great loss.
Poonch was one of the worst-hit areas in the recent India-Pakistan conflict. A school was also struck during the cross-border shelling, which left many children injured.
Internet comes after Rahul Gandhi
Although for a noble cause, people on the internet still didn’t seem to spare Gandhi. One of the X users wrote, “No houses built in Wayanad. Now adopting 22 kids in Poonch? Rahul Gandhi’s politics is all headline, no homework.” The user further added, “from fake promises of 100 homes to PR around “adoption” nothing reaches the ground. Stop the drama. Start delivering.”
Another commented, “what about 26 families?”, referring to the families of victims who were killed in deadly Pahalgam terror attack.
Reacting to the news, another user praised Rahul for this move and wrote, “kudos to Rahul Gandhi for his noble gesture of supporting 22 children orphaned by cross-border violence, showcasing true leadership.” The user added in his post, “Meanwhile, BJP seems more focused on cricket rivalries than the nation’s urgent needs.”
Another use hailed Rahul’s noble move and wrote, “From standing with Nirbhaya’s brother to now adopting 22 children orphaned in Pak shelling during Op Sindoor – Rahul Gandhi continues to redefine what it means to be a leader with a heart. Humanity, responsibility, and empathy. Always at the forefront.”
When Rahul Gandhi comforted children in Poonch
Rahul Gandhi, as per the IE report, had also visited Christ Public School. While speaking to the children, he said he was proud of them and that he understood how much they missed their friends who had been hurt. He comforted them, saying that the situation would go back to normal. He had encouraged them to focus on their studies, enjoy playing, and continue making new friends at school.
Gandhi had also met a young girl whose house had been badly damaged by the shelling. She told him that she and her four sisters lived with their mother, as their father had passed away 16 years ago. She shared how they were all on the ground floor when a shell hit their home, but luckily, they all survived without injuries.
Some residents also spoke to Gandhi and asked for better compensation to repair their damaged homes.
This was Gandhi’s second visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, most of them tourists. He had visited Srinagar on April 25 also, to meet the injured and had spoken to the Lieutenant Governor, the Chief Minister, and other local leaders.