On a day when India’s armed forces launched air strikes across nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, a social media post by the Karnataka Congress stirred up a brief but noticeable controversy.
The Congress state unit shared a quote from Mahatma Gandhi on peace, only to quietly delete it a few hours later. The timing raised eyebrows, as the post came just hours after the Indian Air Force responded to the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 tourists.
Karnataka Congress deletes Gandhi peace quote after India’s POK airstrike
The deleted post and the Gandhi quote
The Congress post on X (formerly Twitter) read, “The most powerful weapon of mankind is peace – Mahatma Gandhi.”
While it might have been meant as a general message in the spirit of Gandhi’s teachings, the quote appeared just after Indian forces launched surgical strikes in retaliation to the brutal Pahalgam attack. The timing led to criticism online, with users questioning the party’s messaging and alignment with national sentiment.
The post was soon taken down without explanation. Within hours, the Congress unit switched tone and posted a statement in support of the armed forces:
“The Indian Air Force (IAF), widely recognised as one of the world’s strongest air forces, gave a befitting reply to the cowardly #PahalgamTerroristAttack. We stand with the govt, we stand with our security forces. #OperationSindoor.”
Congress leaders close ranks, BJP responds
Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president D.K. Shivakumar also echoed the national sentiment. In his post, he said, “#OperationSindoor is a befitting reply to the cowardly Pahalgam terror attack. We stand with the govt, we stand with our security forces. Jai Hind.”
The BJP was quick to weigh in too. Karnataka BJP chief B.Y. Vijayendra praised the air strikes and the Army’s swift response. “In a clinical and precise operation, the Indian Army has begun avenging the targeted killings of Hindus in Pahalgam. Jai Hind!” he posted on X.
