Ravindar Raina’s Video In Snow With Armed Guards Draws Flak, Oppn Asks: ‘Saving BJP Leaders Is More Important?’
A video posted by senior BJP leader Ravinder Raina, showing him running in the snow alongside armed security personnel, has triggered sharp criticism from Opposition leaders, who accused him of insensitivity and misuse of official resources in the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
Raina, a member of the BJP’s national executive, former Jammu and Kashmir BJP president, and former MLA, shared the video on social media on Friday. The reel features him running through snow-covered terrain, followed by at least five armed security personnel. The group is seen smiling as “Aarambh Hai Prachand”, a track from the film 'Gulaal' sung by Piyush Mishra, plays in the background. The post was captioned simply with “Jai Hind”.
The video came under fire as it was posted less than two weeks after the terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. Several Congress leaders and others in the Opposition criticised Raina for what they alleged was a frivolous attitude in a time of national grief.
Senior Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said, “This is Ravinder Raina, former president of BJP in Jammu and Kashmir and a member of the national executive. The entire country is grieving after the Pahalgam terror attack. Someone has lost their young son, their father, their husband. And he is playing in the snow? Making reels? Misusing security personnel? Where does such shamelessness come from? Or is being insensitive the character of the BJP?”.
Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president JP Nadda, she added, “Nadda, Modi… will you remain silent or will you say something?”
Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also took a dig, commenting, “Reel game on point. If you have security such as this, one reel is a must. Security forces can protect borders later, saving BJP leaders is more important.”
The Congress party’s Kerala unit also shared the reel on social media platform X, remarking, “This is the treatment BJP leaders or even fake PMO officials get. But not a single police or military person was posted where over 2,000 tourists visit. Not a single gunshot was fired back.”
Several Congress-affiliated social media handles echoed similar sentiments.
'Malicious Intent, False Propaganda': BJP's Ravinder Raina Responds To Opposition Criticism Of Video
Responding to the criticism, Raina issued a clarification, stating the video was filmed in January 2025 during heavy snowfall in Kashmir’s Kupwara district. He said he was working closely with security personnel to ensure the safety of people in the Kernah Valley and had been stranded at Sadana Pass during a snowstorm.
“Let me set the record straight and promote a culture of truth and awareness. This video shared by Congress Party was filmed in January 2025 during severe snowfall in Kashmir, where I was working closely with our bravehearts to ensure safety of the people of Kernah Valley in district Kupwara of Kashmir, where I was also struck in heavy snowfall at Sadana Pass and with the help of our bravehearts I reached to a safer place,” he wrote.
He further accused the Congress party of deliberately misrepresenting the footage with “malicious intent” and added, “A simple check with the meteorological department would have revealed the truth that in the month of April–May there was no snowfall in the entire Kashmir Valley.”
Referring to the controversy around the video’s caption, he said, “Only thing I understand that the caption in the post, i.e., #JaiHind with our National Flag Tiranga, might have irritated Congress Party to make propaganda without verifying the facts.”
Responding to a question online, Raina added, “January 2025, I was also struck in heavy snowfall at Sadana Pass and with the help of our bravehearts I reached to a safer place. They came to rescue myself and others who were stuck in snowstorm. I am grateful to our bravehearts, our saviours.”
Raina has not issued any further statements as of now.
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