BHUBANESWAR: A political controversy erupted in Odisha after BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo made contentious remarks about the recent terrorist attacks in Pahalgam, drawing sharp criticism from within her own govt.
The controversy intensified after Odisha law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan strongly condemned Deo’s statements, which questioned the authenticity of reports claiming terrorists conducted religious profiling before the killings.
“No terrorist is linked to any religion,” Deo told the media on Thursday, a day after the attack, dismissing reports of religious targeting as “speculation.” She argued that the brief duration of the attacks made it logistically impossible for terrorists to inquire about victims’ religious identities.
The law minister responded on Saturday, saying such insensitive remarks about tragic incidents have no place in politics, calling for public rejection of leaders who make “inhuman statements” about events that shocked the world.
Deo, when contacted, said her statement should not be selectively picked. “I was not at the spot, so I have no way to know what happened. What I said was given the short time in which the terrorists executed the crime, asking the religion of everyone was improbable,” she said.
Sulata said it’s time the entire country stays united, rock solid behind the govt, and doesn’t allow Pakistan to succeed in its narrow nefarious design to divide us. In a social media post on Friday, Deo called for national unity while acknowledging concerns over security lapses.
While emphasising the immediate need to support the country’s leadership, Deo promised a thorough parliamentary review of the incident that claimed multiple lives.
“There were clearly security failures that need to be addressed,” Deo stated. “I assure you that when this matter comes before Parliament, there will be a threadbare discussion. I will present a detailed analysis of preventive measures that could have been taken to save these precious lives.”