New Delhi : In an emotionally charged session of the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra delivered a powerful critique of the central government, centering her speech on the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley under Operation Sindoor. The Pahalgam massacre left 26 dead — 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen.
Taking the floor, Priyanka questioned the “glaring security lapses” in such a high-risk area, demanding, “Why wasn’t adequate security ensured in such a sensitive region?” She went on to read the names of all 25 Indian victims, calling them “Shaheed” and emphasizing their identity as Indians, not political pawns.
Tensions escalated dramatically when, after reading the first name, members from the ruling benches interjected with chants of “Hindu!” Unfazed, Priyanka responded firmly: “He was Indian first.” This simple declaration ignited a slogan war in Parliament. As the treasury continued religious chants, opposition MPs united in calling out “Bharatiya! Bharatiya!” in reply to every name.
Despite appeals for order from Speaker Om Birla, the chant exchange persisted, revealing deep ideological fault lines over how victims of terrorism are remembered — by faith or by nation.
Priyanka concluded her tribute with a solemn reminder: “These 25 people were like us — human beings, not pawns of any political agenda. They were sons of this nation. We owe their families accountability and the truth.”
