"Have some humanity": Pahalgam victim's wife slams politicians for doubting 'religion claim' in terror attack

Pragati Jagdale, the wife of Santosh Jagdale, a Pune-based businessman killed in the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, has hit out at politicians questioning survivors’ accounts that the terrorists asked for their religion before opening fire.

"Please have some humanity. You are also one of us," Pragati said, urging political leaders not to politicise their trauma. Though she did not name anyone, her remarks were directed at Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leaders who have publicly cast doubt on the survivors' version of events.

Speaking to a news channel, Pragati recounted the horror of watching her husband shot dead in front of their family. “We want to tell all politicians—don’t make this a political issue, don’t play with our emotions. We have experienced this terror. We know what was said to us. They spoke to us before killing him,” she said. “Everything the terrorists said, we’ve already shared.”


Her remarks come after senior Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar questioned claims that the attackers asked for the victims' religion before shooting. NCP(SP) leaders Anil Deshmukh and Sharad Pawar made similar remarks.

Deshmukh said videos showed no mention of religion, while Pawar questioned the timing of the communal narrative. “There have been terror attacks before, like Pulwama, but religion was never mentioned. Why now?” Pawar asked.

Pragati responded sharply: “The terrorists did ask our religion before they began killing. We pleaded with them, folded our hands. We felt their hatred. Those who are doubting us should at least think of humanity.”

She added that multiple survivors, including children, have given consistent accounts. “Everyone said the same thing. One person can lie, not all. Why are you questioning us? You are one of us—we consider you our own,” she said.