NEW DELHI: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday clarified remarks suggesting there was “no need for war” with Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
In a statement shared via news agency ANI, Siddaramaiah said, “I mentioned that war is inevitable but must be with Pakistan. I did not say there should be no war at all. It is the central government’s responsibility to ensure security. In the Pahalgam incident, 26 people lost their lives. I only said there should not be an immediate war.”
The controversy erupted after Siddaramaiah, while speaking in Mysuru on Saturday, stated that India should not rush into war with Pakistan and instead focus on strengthening security measures.
“We are not in favour of war. There should be peace, and the central government must ensure people feel secure,” he said, adding that strict security steps should have been implemented in the region.
Criticising the Centre for security lapses, Siddaramaiah pointed out that the attack occurred in a prominent tourist zone where safety should have been a priority. He referenced the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, saying,
“In the same region, 40 soldiers were martyred earlier. There were both intelligence and security failures. The central government failed to provide adequate protection.”
The Karnataka chief minister also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not attending the all-party meeting convened after the attack.
“The PM should have been present. Which is more important — Bihar election campaigning or addressing a national security issue?” he asked.
Reacting strongly, leader of oppposition R Ashoka accused Siddaramaiah of lacking basic understanding of national security despite his long political career. “It is Karnataka’s misfortune that a two-time CM with 40 years of experience does not know what to say at critical moments,” Ashoka said.
He further alleged that Siddaramaiah’s comments posed a “direct challenge to India’s sovereignty and dignity” and accused him of playing into enemy hands at a time when unity was critical.
“At such a sensitive time, the nation must rise above politics and speak in one voice,” Ashoka said, noting that even the Congress national leadership had pledged support to the Centre’s actions.
The BJP charged Siddaramaiah with acting like a “puppet” of an enemy nation, especially with tensions running high along the border.
