Delhi businessman Robert Vadra took on a controversial stance as an apologist of the Pahalgam terror attack that shook the nation this week. Instead of blaming the killers, he further exacerbated the debate surrounding the Hindu-Muslim divide. By saying that terrorists in Pahalgam only attacked non-Muslims upon confirming their religion because of their “mistreatment” in the country, Vadra stoked the BJP’s wrath.
On Wednesday, the BJP launched a scathing attack on Vadra, accusing him of “giving a clean chit” to such terror attacks “on instructions” from Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Here’s what he said that fired up a new controversy:
Robert Vadra on the Pahalgam attack
Initially expressing his heartfelt condolences to the people who were killed in the terrorist attack, Vadra told ANI that the “state of our country” left him “deeply concerned.”
“I wish that people who got injured recover at the earliest. The terroristic acts are a weak way of highlighting a cause… It is a weak act. I think, surely it is time that all governments need to come together to fight this kind of an act or this kind of organisations,” he said.
He then redirected attention to his personal thoughts on the attack. Reiterating that he hadn’t been spurred by the Congress or his family to him speak on the matter, he noted how the terrorists behind the heart-wrenching tragedy checked the touritsts’ IDs before killing them.
#WATCH | #PahalgamTerroristAttack | Delhi | Businessman Robert Vadra says, "I feel terrible and my deepest condolences are for the people who have died in this terrorist act…In our country, we see that this government will talk about Hindutva, and the minorities feel… pic.twitter.com/Hi45M88xaK
— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025
Vadra cites communal disharmony, claiming Modi government’s Hindutva has sidelined minorities
“In our country, we see that this government will tall about Hindutva. The minorities feel uncomfortable and troubled when you have a survey on mosques or you tell people you cannot pray in this or that way. These kind of things create instability, communal issues. If you dissect this terrorist act, why are they looking at people’s identity… because there’s a divide that’s come about with Hindus and Muslims… and also Christians.”
He added, “Why are we having communal disharmony in our country? This will create divides. This will let these kind of organisations to feel that Hindus are making a problem for all the Muslims. We don’t need that. You ask many Hindus and Muslims together… they help each other… they don’t understand all these political ways of trying to win elections or infuse some kind of disorder in people.”
“Looking at identities… and then killing somebody. That’s a message. Also sending a message to the prime minister of country… because Muslims are feeling weakened, the minorities are felling weakened…”
Vadra insists on secularism being the key to progress
He continued, “Terrorism really doesn’t see religion… but in this case… they way they filtered or selected the people they killed was very candid and clear… Being secular in our country is the key to progress. Unity and for us to be united and strong is the only way the next generations will want to stay in our country. There will be brotherhood. It only comes from a misuse in politics where religion is concerned. That’s why religion and politics should be separate… This has to be coming from the top that we feel secure and secular in our country and we will not see this kind of acts happening…”
Political row erupts: BJP’s scathing attacks on Vadra
Following his remarks’ emergence, the BJP took up arms against Vadra, claiming that he was speaking the language of terrorists to justify what happened in Pahalgam. “Robert Vadra’s remarks are completely condemnable,” BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli told PTI. “This is the same language that terrorists always use to justify their terrorism. It’s clear from Robert Vadra’s remarks hat he wants to do politics on such a gruesome terror attack when the entire country is united against it.” Kohli even demanded an apology from Vadra.
Additionally, BJP Nation General Secretary Tarun Chugh has since weighed in on whether Vadra was “speaking the language of anti-national forces.”
“Robert Vadra’s statements are not only ignorant but dangerous. By targetting the Modi government in the wake of a massacre sponsored by anti-national forces, he has exposed the deeply problematic mindset within the Gandhi family.”
BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan also called his comments “unpardonable” and “indefensible.” He questioned, “Is he a proxy for Pakistan, or is he a proxy for murderers/terrorists? Because he seems to be speaking the language of terrorists when he pretty much says that there is a justification for these heinous terrorists to kill Indians… The way Robert Vadra is speaking and making statements, it is as if terrorists have a justification to do this.”
Shehzad Poonawalla, yet another BJP spokesperson, said that the Congress chose to “Defend Pakistan-sponsored Islamid Jihad” and divide the nation while the entire nation is mourning the loss of dozens of lives in the Baisaran area.