NEW DELHI: TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale on Sunday questioned Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw over the government’s inaction against social media accounts allegedly affiliated with the BJP, accusing them of posting “obscene and hateful comments” targeting the wife of a Navy officer killed in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, after she appealed for communal harmony.
“It is shocking to see the obscene & hateful comments being directed towards the widow of the Navy officer who was killed in Pahalgam. Most accounts spreading venom are BJP-affiliated. Why? Only because she appealed for communal harmony,” said Gokhale in a post on X. Further, directly calling out Vaishanaw, he added, “IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw should answer – why aren’t these accounts being taken down or blocked? Are trolls from your party immune from the ambit of the law even when they target a victim & a widow of a slain armed forces officer? Is this your “nationalism”?”
Himanshi, wife of Navy officer Lt Vinay Narwal, who became a symbol of grief following the Pahalgam attack, urged the public a few days ago to cease spreading communal hatred and seeking vengeance against any particular community. “We don’t want people going after Muslims or Kashmiris. We only want peace right now. Of course, we want justice, but the govt must take precise steps against specifically those who did us wrong,” Himanshi had expressed these sentiments at a blood donation event organised on what would have been Lt Vinay Narwal‘s 27th birthday. she further added, “I just want the nation to pray for him (Lt Vinay) so that he is at peace.”
Read more: Seek justice, don’t spew hate, says slain navy officer’s wife
Lieutenant Narwal received complete military honours last week at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. His coffin was met by his grieving family, Navy officials, and political figures, including Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini and Delhi CM Rekha Gupta.
His wife Himanshi, overcome with emotion, embraced and saluted his coffin. Through tears, she had said, “Let his soul rest in peace. He lived a good life. He made us really proud, and we should continue to uphold that pride in every way.”
The tragedy struck while the newlyweds were holidaying in Pahalgam, having married on April 16. The final rites took place on Wednesday evening in Karnal, Haryana, where Lieutenant Narwal’s hometown is situated. His sister Shristi, aged 21, conducted the last rites as thousands of people gathered to pay their respects while the Navy personnel gave a gun salute.
