"No confirmed information on whether gunmen asked religion before killing tourists": NCP-SP leader Anil Deshmukh stokes controversy on Pahalgam terror attack

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 24 : Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) leader Anil Deshmukh on Thursday stated that there was no confirmed information on whether the terrorists of the Pahalgam terror attack had asked the religion of the victims before shooting them.
Speaking to ANI, Deshmukh stated that only investigation would help to know the truth.
"There is no clarity and confirmed information whether the gunmen had asked the religion of the tourists before shooting them.... Only after investigation will we get to know the truth..." Deshmukh said.
He also condemned the incident and said that the government had been taking strict action against the massacre by the terrorists.
"Very unfortunate incident... the government is working to take strict against this massacre the terrorist have done. The Indus agreement has also been postponed.... These are very good steps that the government has taken," he further stated.
The party leader also questioned on how terrorists could enter the site of the incident which was 200 kms away from the border and called it an intelligence failure.
"The question is that the attack took place 200 kms from the border... how did the terrorists get there? This is an intelligence failure.... All of this should be investigated," he further added.
Meanwhile, Congress Working Committee expressed profound shock and condemnation on the attack and also hit out the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for "exploiting" the tragedy through official and proxy channels to "sow discord, mistrust, and polarisation."
"The Congress Working Committee extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families. It stands with them wholeheartedly in this moment of profound anguish," the resolution by the party read.
Calling it a "cowardly act of terror," the party blamed Pakistan for the "direct assault on values of our Republic," and appealed for maintaining calm in the face of provocation.
"This cowardly and calculated act of terror, masterminded by Pakistan, is a direct assault on the values of our Republic. The deliberate targeting of Hindus was done to inflame passions across the country. We appeal for calm in the face of this grave provocation and reaffirm our collective strength in the face of adversity," the resolution read.