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Siddaramaiah sparked a major row by calling the Pahalgam terror attack a result of intelligence failure and saying there was no need for a war with Pakistan.
Siddaramaiah called the Pahalgam attack a result of intelligence failure. (PTI File)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has clarified his remarks related to going to war with Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, after facing backlash for telling the Indian government to boost security in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I never said there should be no war with Pakistan, if a war is inevitable, it will happen,” said Siddaramaiah while clarifying his remark on the issue. “I just said that for now, there should be no war,” he added.
In a post on X, Siddaramaiah said war should be the last resort for any country, only when all other means to subdue the enemy have failed. “It is now clear to both the people of the country and the central government that the terror attack in Pahalgam, orchestrated by Pakistan-backed terrorists, was due to a failure in our intelligence and security systems. The central government has the responsibility to first rectify this lapse and take necessary precautions to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future,” he said.
I have observed the debates and discussions, both for and against, surrounding the statement I made about war.War should always be a nation’s last resort — never the first, nor the only option. Only when every other means to defeat the enemy has failed, should a country be…
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 27, 2025
While welcoming India’s diplomatic moves against Pakistan, the Karnataka CM called for harsher measures and warned against some miscreants spreading war hysteria and disrupting communal harmony. “Pakistan today is a bankrupt, diseased nation with nothing to lose. That is exactly why India, which is emerging as a powerful global nation, must tread carefully,” he added.
Why Did Siddaramaiah’s Remarks Face Backlash?
On Saturday, Siddaramaiah stoked a major controversy by calling the Pahalgam terror attack a result of intelligence failure and saying there was no need for a war with Pakistan, remarks that were even highlighted by the Pakistani media.
“They (Indian government) should be more alert. This is an intelligence failure, a security failure. There is no need for war now. But strict measures must be taken. Security measures must be tightened. We are not for war,” he had then told reporters.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came down heavily on Siddaramaiah’s “highly condemnable” and “shameful” remarks, accusing him of giving a clean chit to Pakistan and justifying their acts of terrorism. “It is the misfortune of Karnataka that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has 40 years of vast political experience and has served as Chief Minister twice, lacks the basic sense of when and what to speak,” said Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.
“Our country has a professional armed force. It is left to the responsibility, expertise, and experience of our military to determine what action needs to be taken in any situation. In this regard, your advice is unnecessary, and you do not have the qualifications to offer any. Thousands of illegal Bangladeshi, Rohingya, and Pakistani immigrants are roaming freely. First, identify them, deport them, and focus on ensuring the safety of Kannadigas. Do not unnecessarily interfere in matters that do not concern you,” he added.
“Congress and Pakistan speak in the same language, whether it is Article 370, Samjhauta, Pulwama, 26/11, surgical strike, Balakot air strike. Congress is no longer INC, but a PPP- Pakistan Parast Party. Therefore, on one hand, they say the strongest action should be taken against those who are exporting terrorism into India, and on the other hand, the Congress is busy giving clean chit to Pakistan,” said BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla.
Karnataka BJP MP Tejasvi Surya also condemned the remarks, saying it is the Army and the Indian government’s call to take further actions against terrorism. “The Chief Minister should realise that he represents a state where three people have been killed brutally by these terrorists, and the least he can do is demand strict action and condemn what has happened,” he added.
BJP also mocked Siddaramaiah as “Halal CM” after his remarks were broadcast in the Pakistani media. “With your childish and nonsensical statements, you’ve now become world-famous overnight in Pakistan. Congratulations to you. If you ever visit Pakistan in the future, you’re guaranteed a royal welcome,” said R Ashoka.
As the nation grieves the tragic loss of innocent lives in the Pahalgam Terror Attack orchestrated by terrorists supported and sponsored by Pakistan, Chief Minister @siddaramaiah attributing the attack to ‘intelligence failure’ have been exploited by Pakistani media.They… pic.twitter.com/nJFxC5mFgV
— Basanagouda R Patil (Yatnal) (@BasanagoudaBJP) April 27, 2025
Terrorists unleashed gunfire in Pahalgam on April 22, killing at least 26 people — mostly tourists — in the deadliest attack in the Valley since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Three people from Karnataka—Manjunath Rao from Shivamogga, Bharat Bhushan from Bengaluru and Madhusudan Rao, a resident of Bengaluru who hailed from Andhra Pradesh—also lost their lives in the horrific attack on April 22.
BJP Hits Out At Siddaramaiah
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lashed out at Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah over his remarks and referred to him as “Pakistan Ratna”.
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka accused Siddaramaiah of acting like a “puppet” of an enemy nation.
“Congratulations to you. If you ever visit Pakistan again, you are guaranteed royal hospitality. It will not be surprising if the Pakistani government honours you with the highest civilian award, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, as a great peace ambassador who has advocated for Pakistan,” he said in a post on ‘X’, sharing a clip of Pakistani news channel playing up Siddaramaiah’s remark.
Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra also shared the clip and wrote on X, “Big cheers for Wazar-e-Ala @siddaramaiah from far across the Borders! Pakistani media is all too praise for @siddaramaiah & visibly disappointed at the backlash he is receiving from BJP & others, for his comments against war with Pakistan.”
Further referring to former PM Jawaharlal Nehru, Vijayendra said, “Nehru was taken around in an open Jeep around the streets of Rawalpindi, as Pakistan was too happy with Nehru for signing the Indus Water Treaty that favoured Pakistan. Is Siddaramaiah going to be the next politician from India to be taken around in open Jeep in Pakistan?”
