‘Soldiers bearing the brunt of...’ Rahul Gandhi makes sharp attack on BJP after Doda encounter

Hours after the killing of four soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda, the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched an attack on the Central government alleging that the soldiers were bearing the brunt of BJP’s wrong policies.

Taking it to his official X handle, the Congress leader mentioned, “Today, our soldiers were martyred in another terrorist encounter in Jammu and Kashmir. I pay my humble tribute to the martyrs and express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families.

Such horrific incidents happening one after the other is extremely sad and worrying. These continuous terrorist attacks are revealing the poor condition of Jammu and Kashmir. Our soldiers and their families are bearing the brunt of BJP's wrong policies.”

He further mentioned, “It is the demand of every patriotic Indian that the government should take full responsibility for the repeated security lapses and take strict action against the culprits who harm the country and the soldiers.”

आज जम्मू कश्मीर में फिर से एक आतंकी मुठभेड़ में हमारे जवान शहीद हो गए। शहीदों को विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करते हुए शोक संतप्त परिजनों को गहरी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करता हूं।

एक के बाद एक ऐसी भयानक घटनाएं बेहद दुखद और चिंताजनक है।

लगातार हो रहे ये आतंकी हमले जम्मू कश्मीर की जर्जर…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 16, 2024

Adding to this, the Congress party President Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted, “Modi Govt is acting as if everything is “business as usual” and nothing has changed. They must know that increasingly Jammu region is bearing the brunt of these attacks.” 

In his tweet, Kharge condemned the terror attack and asserted that as a nation we all have to collectively fight the cross-border terrorism.

Deeply distressed by the martydom of 4 brave Army soldiers, including an officer, in a terror encounter in Jammu & Kashmir’s Doda.

Our heart goes out to the families of our bravehearts, who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of Bharat Mata.

Our thoughts and prayers are…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 16, 2024

Here’s What Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said

While expressing grief on the incident, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh taking it to his X handle said, that the counter-terrorist operations are underway, and our soldiers remain committed to eliminating the scourge of terrorism and restoring peace and order in the region.

Deeply saddened by the loss of our brave and courageous Indian Army Soldiers in a counter terrorist operation in Urrar Baggi, Doda (J&K). My heart goes out to the bereaved families. The Nation stands firmly with the families of our soldiers who have sacrificed their lives in the…

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 16, 2024

Four soldiers martyred

Based on certain information inputs, the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted a coordinated operation in Doda on Monday night. The White Knight Corps reported that a fierce gunfight broke out after contact with terrorists at around 9 pm on Monday.

Four Army personnel including an officer were killed in the gunfight. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi spoke to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to brief him on the Doda encounter.

Four Indian Army soldiers including an officer have been killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in the Doda area of Jammu and Kashmir. The operations are still going on. More details awaited: Defence officials https://t.co/N7qxseN5jh pic.twitter.com/5fePA8Mihd

— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2024

According to the sources, Kashmir Tigers has claimed responsibility for the attack. Notably, it is the same group which had claimed responsibility for the attack on an Indian Army convoy in Kathua.