J&K BJP leader's 'insensitive' snow reel with security sparks outrage after Pahalgam attack

Senior BJP leader and former Jammu and Kashmir party chief Ravinder Raina is facing sharp criticism from Opposition parties after he posted a video of himself running through snow, accompanied by armed security personnel.

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The reel, set to the intense song Aarambh Hai Prachand from the film Gulaal, was shared on social media with the caption “Jai Hind”.

#JaiHind 🇮🇳

🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/vH4XYKkrpI

— Ravinder Raina (@RavinderRaina) May 4, 2025

The video shows Raina jogging and smiling with at least six security personnel closely behind him. While the content may have been intended as a patriotic or motivational message, the timing of the post—less than two weeks after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives—has sparked outrage.

Senior Congress leader Supriya Shrinate criticised the video, calling it “insensitive” given the recent tragedy. “People have lost their sons, fathers, and husbands. And this person is shooting reels? Misusing security personnel? Is this the character of the BJP?” she said in a statement, also questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President JP Nadda’s silence on the matter.

Reel game on point. If you have security such as this ek reel toh banti hai. Security forces can protect borders later, BJP waalon ko bachana bahut zaroori hai.

pic.twitter.com/V59cFzimqf

— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) May 5, 2025

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi took a jibe at the video, saying, “If you have such security, then of course you make a reel. The security forces can protect the borders later—saving BJP leaders seems to be the priority.”

The Congress’s Kerala unit also weighed in, contrasting the protection afforded to BJP leaders with the apparent lack of adequate security at tourist sites like Pahalgam, where the recent attack occurred.

“Not a single police or military person was posted where over 2,000 tourists visit. Not a single gunshot was fired back,” the party’s social media handle stated.

Raina has not responded publicly to the criticism.