First crack: After Karnataka CM’s no-war remark, BJP says Congress speaks like Pakistan

The BJP hit back at the Chief Minister, calling him “Pakistan Ratna” and accusing him of “speaking “the language of Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Home Minister and Foreign Minister”.

In a post on X, Siddaramaiah said, “War should always be a nation’s last resort – never the first, nor the only option. Only when every other means to defeat the enemy has failed should a country be compelled to go to war.”

Flagging “grave lapses in our intelligence and security apparatus” before the terror attack, he said the government should first correct these shortcomings to prevent such tragedies in the future.

“Pakistan today is a crumbling, bankrupt state, sick and weakened. They have little left to lose. In contrast, India is rising – a growing superpower in the world order – and hence, we must tread with wisdom and caution. At this crucial moment, nations across the world have come out in strong condemnation of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, standing firmly with India. We must seize this unprecedented global support and teach Pakistan a lesson so profound that they dare not commit such reckless acts ever again,” he said.

On Saturday, when he was asked by reporters about the possibility of a war with Pakistan, Siddaramaiah said: “It is not necessary to wage war on Pakistan. The Union government should take measures to strengthen security in Kashmir. We are not in favour of war. To ensure peace in Kashmir, security should be strengthened.”

Union Minister and BJP leader Pralhad Joshi lashed out at the Congress Chief Minister.

“The entire world is offering condolences to India. Most countries want India to teach the terrorists a lesson. Meanwhile, CM Siddaramaiah’s remarks asking not to punish the culprits but to strengthen our security is condemnable,” he said.

R Ashoka, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, called the Chief Minister “Pakistan Ratna” and claimed that Siddaramaiah had become “world famous in Pakistan due to his childish comments”.

BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused Siddaramaiah and other Congress leaders of “speaking the language of Pakistan”.

“When the entire country is seething with anger at this terrorist attack, and each citizen’s sentiments are of India giving a harsh and effective give reply – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, in line with this, expressed his commitment to bring those behind it to justice even if it requires reaching the ends of the world – it is a matter of grief that some leaders of the Congress party are speaking the same language as that of leaders from Pakistan,” he said.

“Senior Congress leader and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah saying that war is not an option is literally the language being spoken by Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Home Minister and Foreign Minister. We want to ask the Congress party: You had said that you are standing with the government. It just took a few days for your mask to slip off? Another Tuesday has not followed the first and amangal (inauspicious) has started coming from your mouths?” Trivedi said.

The JD (S) also attacked Siddaramaiah by sharing a video of a TV channel in Pakistan highlighting Siddaramaiah’s remarks. “Your love for Pakistan is being celebrated even in the Pakistani media,” it said.