BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ram Chander Jangra has ignited a political firestorm following his controversial comments on the widows of the victims of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at an event in Bhiwani, Haryana, to mark the 300th birth anniversary of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar, Jangra stated that the women should have fought back against the terrorists instead of pleading for their husbands’ lives.

“They (women tourists) should have fought. I believe they should have fought. This would have resulted in lesser casualty. If all the tourists have been Agniveer they would have tackled the terrorists ultimately reducing casualties. We have to reignite the spirit of bravery in our sister like Queen Ahilyabai,” Jangra said.

He said “the women, whose husbands were killed by the terrorists, “did not have the spirit of warriors” and that’s why these women fell victim to the bullets pleading for the lives of their husbands with folded hands.”

“Wahan par jo hamari veerangnay behane thee, jinki maang ka sindoor chheen liya gaya, Veerangna ka bhaav nahin tha, josh nahin tha, jazba nahin tha, dil nahin tha, isliye haath jod ke goli ka shikaar ho gaye. (Women, who lost their husbands, did not have the spirit and vigour. Therefore, they became victims of the attack),” Jangra said.

His comments have drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders and activists who have labelled them as deeply insensitive and offensive.

Condemnation from Opposition Leaders

Reacting to the statement, Congress MP from Rohtak Deepender Singh Hooda condemned the remarks as “extremely despicable.” In a post on X he wrote, “Those whose husbands were ruined by terrorists in the Pahalgam attack, now this BJP MP from Haryana, Ramchandra ji is working to ruin their dignity. This is a very disgusting comment. The BJP is constantly insulting the families of martyrs. This should be stopped.”

Former Odisha Congress President, Niranjan Patnaik also made a post on X to condemn the act.

BJP leaders shamelessly continue to insult those who lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack — and their grieving families.

Now, Haryana BJP MP Ram Chander Jangra has crossed all limits. He has not only disrespected the martyrs but also blamed their widows for the… pic.twitter.com/hArYwSwu7x

— Niranjan Patnaik (@NPatnaikOdisha) May 25, 2025

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also lashed out at Jangra’s comments, accusing the BJP of repeatedly insulting the Indian Army and the families of martyrs.

He wrote, “BJP leaders are continuously insulting the Indian Army and the martyrs, which exposes their petty and low mentality. This shameful statement of Rajya Sabha MP Ramchandra Jangra shows that the BJP, intoxicated with power, has become so insensitive that instead of blaming the security lapse for the sacrifice of the soldiers martyred in the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the BJP MPs are raising questions on the martyrs and their wives.”

“No action has been taken against leaders like Vijay  Shah and Devda till date – now this new statement is highly objectionable. Why should the silence of Prime Minister Modi and the BJP leadership not be considered a tacit acceptance of these statements?. Our clear demand is – Prime Minister Modi should apologize for this shameful statement and expel MP Ramchandra Jangra from the party.” Ramesh wrote on X.

“BJP Is Anti-Women”: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav issued a scathing rebuke of Jangra’s statement.m“Even the word ‘condemnable’ would object to being used for such a disgusting statement by the BJP MP about the victimised women of Pahalgam,” he wrote on X.

पहलगाम की पीड़ित महिलाओं के बारे में कहे गये भाजपा सांसद के इस कुत्सित बयान के लिए ‘निंदनीय’ शब्द लिखने से निंदनीय शब्द तक को आपत्ति होगी। नारी वंदना की जगह, नारी का अपमान, निंदा और हर संभव शोषण व उत्पीड़न करना ही भाजपा का असली चेहरा है, जो वीभत्स भी है और बेहद शर्मनाक भी।… pic.twitter.com/KzV6W73bLC

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 24, 2025

“Instead of honoring women, the BJP chooses to insult, blame, exploit, and harass them in every possible way. This is their true face, and it is both shameful and revolting. The BJP is not a political party, but a cesspool of anti-women mentality.”

Supriya Shrinate Questions BJP’s Sensitivity

Congress social media head Supriya Shrinate also weighed in on the controversy, citing Jangra’s remarks and calling out the BJP’s hypocrisy.

BJP ने इस desh की आधी आबादी का अपमान करने का मानो बीड़ा उठा लिया है

कल BJP MP रामचन्द्र जांगड़ा ने पहलगाम में जिन बेटियों की दुनिया उजाड़ गई, उनके अंदर वीरांगनाओं का जज़्बा और जोश ना होने का कटाक्ष किया

BJP वाले उन बेटियों के घावों पर मरहम लगाने के बजाय आतंकी हमले का दोष उनको… pic.twitter.com/nd04EBhVpl

— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) May 25, 2025

“BJP MP Ramchandra Jangra is talking about the women who lost their husbands in the Pahalgam attack. ‘She did not have the spirit of a warrior. She did not have passion, she did not have zeal, she did not have heart. That’s why they folded their hands and became a victim of the bullet,’” Shrinate quoted Jangra on X. “And party talks about vermilion? There’s a limit to shamelessness,” she added.

Jangra Defends Remarks

Defending his statements, Jangra reiterated that if the victims had resisted, the number of casualties might have been lower. “Bilkul ladna chahihye tha. Aur agar ladte, to kam shahadat hoti aur kam log maare jaate. Haath jodne se kaun chhodta hai? Wo to maarne ke liye aaye the…Vo to aatankvaadi the. Unke dil mein daya thodi thee,” Jangra said, according to PTI.

He also claimed that casualties would have been lower had the tourists undergone Agniveer-style military training. “Agar yaatri training pass kiye hote, to teen ugarvaadi 26 logon ko nahin mar sakte the,” he said.

BJP MP Lauds Shashi Tharoor

During the same event, Jangra took a jab at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, stating, “No one takes Rahul seriously, nor should they,” and accused him of tarnishing India’s image abroad.

In contrast, he praised Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, calling him an intellectual and commending his efforts like “Operation Sindoor” for countering Pakistan on global platforms. The comments from Jangra have intensified an already polarized political climate, with calls for accountability and sensitivity in the handling of terror attack victims and their families.