Pulwama attack: Prashant Bhushan justifies terror, netizens school him
What's the story
While the Pulwama terror attack jolted the entire nation, senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan ended up justifying terrorism with a tweet which got him flak from various social media users. Commenting on the attack, Bhushan in a tweet wrote Adil Ahmad Dar, the terrorist who carried out the attack on CRPF convoy, joined Jaish-e-Mohammed after security forces abused him. Soon, netizens slammed his skewed logic.
Terrorist
The terrorist who blew car joined Jaish last year
20-year-old Adil joined Jaish last year. Claiming responsibility for the barbaric attack, Jaish released a pre-recorded video in which Adil spoke about reaching heaven after the attack. Adil vitriol filled video was also aimed at creating communal tension in India. Notably, Adil's father Gulam also made contradictory statements about his son. After saying he didn't know about his inclination, Gulam took a U-turn.
Contradiction
Family claims 'action of security forces' drove Adil to "militancy"
Gulam told Reuters his son joined "militancy" after he and his friends were roughed up by security officials. His mother, Fahmeeda concurred by saying, "He was beaten by the troops a few years back when he was returning from school. This led to anger in him against the troops." Meanwhile, police said Adil was involved in stone-pelting incidents and was on their radar.
Tweet
Shamefully, Bhushan spoke about Adil's past to defend him
While the entire nation condemned Adil's deplorable act in unison, Bhushan took the other route. His controversial tweet, dated February 15, read, "It is important to understand why so many young men in Kashmir are becoming militants and willing to die. Even US forces couldn't hold Afghanistan and Iraq after large-scale suicide attacks." Soon, BJP's Meenakshi Lekhi took it on herself to slam Bhushan.
Twitter Post
Lekhi reminds of Kashmiri Pandits' plight to school Bhushan
Shameful! Insulting the brave hearts and indulging in false propaganda. If insults made people terrorists then unjust treatment meted out to Kashmiri Hindus would have produced millions of terrorists. Bar Council should take cognisance of such provocative acts 🇮🇳 Jai Hind https://t.co/J8wjrU0N1c
— Meenakashi Lekhi (@M_Lekhi) February 16, 2019
Tweets
Other Twitter users also slam Bhushan
Lekhi wasn't the only one who dismissed Bhushan's tweet. Twitter user @RoflGandhi_ tweeted: You were once beaten by goon Bagga but you didn't blow up his house. While BJP's Punit Agarwal wrote: How many Kashmiri Pandits picked guns despite being thrown out of their own house? Stop justifying terror and glorifying terrorists. And Tarak Fateh wrote: Was that you in the line outside the Pakistan High Commission visa application line @pBhushan1?
Twitter Post
Congress' Divya Spandana endorses Bhushan's views, BJP questions Rahul Gandhi
Dear @RahulGandhi ji, yesterday I was really happy to see your support for the government on #PulwamaAttack. But today I am sad to see @divyaspandana supporting terrorists by RTing this tweet of Urban Naxal Prashant Bhushan. Request you to please clarify your stand on this. pic.twitter.com/jq7VXqJKg7
— Maheish Girri (@MaheishGirri) February 16, 2019
Mourning
In worst attack in decades, 40 soldiers were martyred
India has been mourning the passing away of its 40 soldiers since Thursday. The CRPF convoy was traveling on the Jammu-Srinagar highway when Adil rammed his SUV into one of the buses. The huge explosion, for which several kgs of RDX were reportedly used, took lives of jawans and injured many. This was the worst terrorist attack to hit the valley in decades.
Statement
Meanwhile, PM Modi says martyrs won't be forgotten
In this hour of grief, all eyes turned towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi who promised the sacrifices won't go in vain. Flaying with Pakistan (JeM operates from there), PM Modi said on Saturday the country which was born after the partition has become synonymous to terror. He added security forces have been given freedom to give a befitting reply to terrorists.