Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Sulata Deo has come under heavy fire after making controversial remarks about the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 innocent tourists dead.
What Happened?
During a recent statement, Sulata Deo appeared to question the accounts shared by the survivors of the Pahalgam attack. According to some victims, the terrorists selectively killed male tourists after asking them about their religion.
However, Deo raised doubts about this version. She argued that it was “not possible” for terrorists to ask so many people about their religion in such a short time during an attack.
Adding further, she emphasized, “We should not associate terrorism with any particular religion,” suggesting that connecting terrorism to religious identity could be misleading.
Reaction from Political Leaders
Deo’s remarks did not sit well with many, including leaders from her own party.
- Debi Prasad Mishra, a senior BJD leader and former minister, publicly distanced himself from her comments. He stressed that no one should hurt the emotions of the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in such a tragic manner.
The backlash grew stronger when opposition leaders weighed in:
- Jaya Narayan Mishra, senior BJP leader and five-time MLA from Sambalpur, strongly condemned Deo’s statement.
He accused her of mocking the victims and disrespecting the country’s sentiments, and urged the public to “teach her a lesson” for making such insensitive remarks.
Sulata Deo’s Apology
Realizing the intensity of the criticism, Sulata Deo later issued a statement expressing regret.
“I am extremely sorry if my comments have hurt anyone’s feelings,” she said, trying to calm the outrage.
Background: The Pahalgam Terror Attack
On April 22, tragedy struck when heavily armed terrorists launched a brutal attack on tourists at Pahalgam, a popular hill station in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the horrifying assault, at least 26 tourists were killed while many others were injured.
Eyewitnesses and survivors reported that the attackers targeted specific individuals after inquiring about their religion, though investigations are still ongoing to establish all the facts.
