Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has committed to funding the education of 22 children in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, who lost one or both parents during intense Pakistani shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) from May 7 to 10, during Operation Sindoor.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra announced the initiative on Monday while on a three-day tour of Rajouri, stating that Gandhi, moved by the plight of bereaved families during his visit to Poonch, had requested a list of school-going children who lost their breadwinners in the attacks.

Karra told reporters that the list from Poonch alone currently includes 22 children, with more potentially to be added by the end of his visit. The shelling, a response to India’s missile strikes on terror infrastructure across the border following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, resulted in 28 civilian deaths, including 13 in Poonch. Gandhi’s financial aid aims to ensure these children’s education remains unaffected.

Karra, who will personally deliver the aid in Poonch on Tuesday, emphasized the initiative’s goal of providing hope and stability. He also refuted rumors of discord with pre-poll ally National Conference, but noted a nine-month delay in forming a coordination committee with the ruling party.

Also Read: Monsoon Session: Rajnath Hails Op Sindoor, Slams Opposition