New Delhi: Days after his remarks about “Muslims feeling weakened” following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack stirred controversy, Robert Vadra on Monday clarified that his comments were “not fully understood in their complete context.” He emphasized that there was no justification for killing innocent people.
In a Facebook post, Vadra wrote: “No justification – political, religious, or ideological – can ever excuse violence against innocent, defenceless people. I believe that terrorism, in any form, is not just an attack on individuals but an assault on the very soul of humanity. It destroys the basic right of every human being to live without fear.”
His initial remarks, made on April 23, were in response to the attack where terrorists singled out Hindu males. Vadra suggested that the terrorists’ actions were an attempt to convey that “Muslims are feeling weakened” in India. He added that the terrorist attack reflected a divide between Hindus and Muslims in the country.
These comments were met with sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused Vadra of using the language of terrorists and demanded an apology. The BJP stated that his words were in poor taste and asked him to retract his statement.
In response to the political uproar, Vadra finally addressed the issue, defending his near-week-long silence. He said, “I chose to remain silent for a few days, but this silence should not be mistaken for indifference, apathy, or a lack of patriotism. In fact, it is my deep love for my country, my profound respect for truth, and my commitment to dedication that made me take time for reflection before speaking.”
