Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, will provide educational support for 22 children from the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, who have lost one or both parents due to Pakistani shelling during Operation Sindoor. This initiative was announced on Monday by senior Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra.
At a press conference held in Rajouri, Karra explained that this initiative was launched following Gandhi’s visit to Poonch in response to heavy cross-border shelling and drone attacks by Pakistan from May 7 to 10. The Pakistani offensive came as retaliation to Indian missile strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure along the Line of Control, following a deadly attack in Pahalgam on April 22.
During this period, Poonch reported the highest number of civilian deaths in the region, with 13 fatalities contributing to a total of 28 casualties during the aggressive actions. This situation has left numerous children orphaned or without their primary financial supporters, compelling Gandhi to instruct Congress leaders to identify school-aged children in dire need of assistance.
Karra noted, “Many civilian casualties and significant property damage occurred in Poonch and Rajouri. Rahul Gandhi visited the grieving families and directed us to find children who lost their parents, particularly those reliant on them for their education. We have submitted a list of 22 such children from Poonch, and more names may be added.”
The Congress leader also indicated that he would visit Poonch on Tuesday to personally distribute the educational aid on Gandhi’s behalf. “This is a personal gesture by Rahul Gandhi to ensure that the children’s education remains unaffected by this tragedy. It is aimed at providing them with a sense of security and continuity,” he added.
In his statements, Karra also addressed concerns regarding the Congress party’s relationship with its pre-poll ally, the National Conference. He emphasized that there were no existing rifts between the two parties. However, he noted the ongoing delay in forming a coordination committee with the ruling party, a process that has yet to materialize even nine months after the elections.
