Congress Questions BJP Over Viral Video of Ex-J&K Chief With Soldiers in Snow; Raina Clarifies Clip Dates Back to January
New Delhi, May 5: A political row erupted on Monday after the Congress Party shared a video clip of BJP’s former Jammu and Kashmir unit president Ravinder Raina, seen amidst snowfall with soldiers, raising sharp criticism over the timing and intent of the footage. The Congress questioned whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership endorsed such behavior at a time when the nation is grieving the loss of innocent lives in the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
The Congress, through a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, said, “People have been killed by terrorists in Kashmir. The entire nation is in mourning over this horrific tragedy. Yet, BJP’s former state president and national executive member Ravinder Raina is seen making a video, cheerfully frolicking in snow with jawans. Is this how one mourns a national tragedy?” The party accused Raina of being insensitive and opportunistic, alleging that he was using the situation to promote himself on social media.
Further intensifying its attack, Congress media department head Pawan Khera posted images of Raina in the snow with soldiers alongside pictures of Kiran Patel, the conman who had once posed as a PMO official and moved around the Valley with VIP security. Khera wrote in Hindi, “The government ensures VIP security for drama artistes and thugs, but common tourists must fend for themselves.”
Responding to the allegations, Ravinder Raina strongly rejected Congress’ claims and called the accusations baseless and politically motivated. Clarifying the context of the video, Raina said, “The footage was not recent and was actually recorded in January 2025 during a period of intense snowfall in the Kernah Valley of Kupwara district. I was working with the armed forces to assist stranded citizens and ensure their safety. I myself was trapped at Sadana Pass and was rescued with the help of our brave jawans.”
Raina accused the Congress of spreading misinformation without verifying facts and exploiting the moment for political mileage. “If the Congress had even bothered to check with the meteorological department, they would know that there was no snowfall in Kashmir in April or May. Their outrage appears more about the ‘Jai Hind’ caption and the national flag than about facts,” he posted on X.
He further expressed gratitude to the soldiers who helped him and others during the snowstorm, calling them “our saviours,” and condemned the Congress for turning a genuine moment of national service into a political controversy.
