New Delhi [India], April 26 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Saturday slammed Congress, calling them a 'Pakistan Parast Party (a party in favour of Pakistan)' after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that he was not in 'favour of war.'

Speaking with ANI, Poonawalla said, 'INC is no longer the Indian National Congress. It has become INC PPP (Pakistan Parast Party). Congress and Pakistan speak the same language time and again.'

Poonawalla alleged that Congress has a 'soft corner' for Pakistan and terrorism, adding that they are 'speaking the language of Pakistan.'

'They have a soft corner for Pakistan and its terrorism... On one hand, they say that they are with the government, but on the other hand, they say that Pakistan should be spared... This is not INC but it is PPP (Pakistan Parast Party)... Today, when it is time to give a tough reply, Congress is again speaking the language of Pakistan,' Poonawalla said.

Earlier, Siddaramaiah said that he was not in favour of 'war' with Pakistan and cited concerns regarding 'security lapse' in the deadly terrorist attack, which killed 26 people.

He called for strengthening security in the Kashmir valley to ensure peace.

'There has been a security lapse in this incident. We are not in favour of war. Steps should be taken to tighten security measures in the Kashmir region. The central government should increase security to ensure peace in Kashmir,' Siddaramaiah told reporters here.

The Karnataka CM stated that his government would take steps to ensure that Pakistani nationals residing in the state are sent back as per the instructions of the central government.

'Steps will be taken to send back Pakistani citizens as per the instructions of the central government. Information will be obtained about the number of Pakistanis in various cities of the state,' Siddaramaiah said.

The country remains in mourning over the shocking death of 26 people in the terrorist attack in the Pahalgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, which also left many injured.

India has taken strong countermeasures against Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism.

The government has temporarily suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. This decision was made at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) held on April 23, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and External Affairs Minister SJaishankar. (ANI)