Congress' social media head says no intention to politicize Pulwama terror attack

The Congress' social media head Divya Spandana Friday said the party had no intention of politicising and using the Pulwama attack to garner votes. Speaking at an interactive session here, she claimed mainstream media in the country was under pressure and journalists had no editorial freedom.

"I don't think on this particular incident (Pulawama), there was any sort of garnering votes. In fact, our party leader Rahul Gandhi at a press conference said we support the government... there was no politicisation in this particular incident. But then it was imperative for us as the opposition to raise these questions.

This is what people were asking online and this is what media was also writing about," she said when asked if the Congress party will try to translate people anger on the incident into votes. "I don't think we raise them to channel any anger towards BJP or Prime Minister or to garner votes.

At the end of the day, it is people to decide but I don't think we strategise anything to do that sort," she added. Alleging that the NDA government failed to act beforehand despite having intelligence inputs, she hit out at the Centre, saying demonetisation was supposed to curb source of funding for terrorists and thereby stop terrorism.

Quoting a few incidents, she said the mainstream media was "not exactly" on Congress side. "I think freedom of expression is being suppressed especially that of media. I feel like media revenues come from government advertisements and brand advertising and things like that. So when they pull out, then you are under pressure... so you can't write what you want at the end of the day," she opined.

According to her, many editors were sacked and journalists were either sacked or killed because they had "different opinion." The former MP was speaking at the ISB Policy conclave 'Road to 19,' organised by the Indian School of Business here.

(With inputs from agencies.)