Jairam Ramesh Sparks Row With ‘Terrorist-MP’ Remark, BJP Slams

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh triggered a fierce political row on Thursday after comparing Members of Parliament participating in India’s global anti-terror outreach with terrorists behind the recent Pahalgam attack, prompting sharp backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Speaking to ANI, Ramesh said, “These terrorists of Pahalgam were involved in four attacks, and still they are roaming around here and there. Our MPs are roaming and terrorists are roaming too.” The remark was widely condemned, with BJP leaders calling it an “atrocious comparison” that undermines India’s diplomatic and military efforts, including Operation Sindoor.

The statement comes at a time when India has deployed seven all-party delegations to various countries as part of its diplomatic campaign to expose Pakistan’s role in terrorism following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir last month that claimed 26 lives.

Reacting strongly, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said, “This is how Congress undermines not just our military strike (Operation Sindoor) by calling it ‘chut put’ but also our diplomatic strike.” He further questioned whether Parliament should act against Ramesh for his remarks, accusing Congress of consistently belittling national security efforts.

Poonawala also reposted a clip of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge calling the government’s action a “chutput war” against Pakistan, doubling down on the charge that the Congress party is not supporting India’s counter-terror mission sincerely.

Ironically, the global outreach delegation includes several Congress MPs — most notably Shashi Tharoor, who is leading one of the groups in the diplomatic campaign aimed at building international support against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

The seven groups comprise 59 members, including 31 from the NDA and 20 from opposition parties. The delegations are being assisted by former diplomats, with visits planned to the US, Europe, and other key global capitals.

Jairam Ramesh, defending his statement, accused the BJP of targeting Congress instead of the actual perpetrators of terrorism. “Their attack is on the Congress party; it should be on the terrorists… The missiles being launched every day are being launched against Congress,” he said.

The controversy arises in the aftermath of a brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir last month. The attack, reportedly carried out by Pakistani-linked militants, killed 26 people and reignited India’s calls for international condemnation of cross-border terrorism.