Daijiworld Media Network- Lucknow
Lucknow, May 1: In a significant development, the Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench is set to hear a petition on Friday, May 2, seeking legal action against businessman Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, over his controversial remarks linked to the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
The plea, filed by the Hindu Front for Justice along with others, calls for the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe Vadra's alleged statements and to initiate proceedings under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).
The matter was previously listed before a division bench comprising Justices Rajan Roy and Om Prakash Shukla on Wednesday. However, the case could not be heard due to time constraints.
The petition follows a devastating terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, a scenic destination in Jammu and Kashmir, where militants opened fire on civilians, killing 26 people.
Robert Vadra reportedly made remarks in the aftermath of the incident that triggered sharp political backlash. According to the petitioner's counsel, advocate Ranjana Agnihotri, Vadra implied that the attack may have been driven by communal divisions in the country and suggested that non-Muslims were targeted due to perceived injustices against Muslims in India.
Speaking a day after the attack, Vadra was quoted as saying, “In our country, we see that this government will talk about Hindutva, and the minorities feel uncomfortable and troubled... If you dissect this terrorist act that took place, if they (terrorists) are looking at people's identity, why are they doing this? Because there's a divide that has come about in our country with Hindus and Muslims…”
His statement, seen by many as controversial, drew widespread criticism on social media, with several users and political leaders accusing him of rationalising the actions of terror groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba.
BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya took to platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Shocking! Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra shamelessly defends an act of terror, offering cover to the terrorists instead of condemning them. He shifts the blame onto India for the atrocities committed by Pakistani terrorists.”
Echoing similar sentiments, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala wrote, “Even as we mourn our deep loss in #PahalgamTerroristAttack, Congress is back to what it does best: defend Pakistan-sponsored Islamic Jihad, blame Hindus, and divide the nation. Robert Vadra, on instructions of Sonia & Rahul Gandhi, has started giving a clean chit to Pakistan, blamed Hindutva, and justified terror actions by giving a 'legitimate cause.'"
The court will now deliberate whether the statements warrant an investigation and possible legal action under national security and public harmony concerns.