Centre admitted to security lapse in terror attack in Pahalgam: Kharge

Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge speak to the media after attending the all-party meeting convened by the central government, in New Delhi on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: ANI

AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday (April 26, 2025) said that the Central government had admitted to security lapses in the terrorists’ attack and killing of 27 tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking at a function in Bengaluru, Mr. Kharge said Home Minister Amit Shah had admitted that security lapse was the reason for the attack during an all-party meeting held on April 24. Despite the existence of a three-phase security, the Centre was not able to ensure the safety of tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

Follow Pahalgam terror attack updates on April 26

However, the Congress has decided to support the Centre in the interest of the nation and the party has supported the government’s decision. The Congress was committed to coordination and cooperation with the government to eliminate terrorism from its roots, the Congress leader said.

Skipping all-party meet

Mr. Kharge, who is also the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, took exception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi skipping the all-party meeting, and said it was not good on the part of Mr Modi to remain abstained from the meeting. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting.

“We expected Mr. Modi to chair the meeting and hold discussions with all political parties to address the challenge of terrorism. But Mr. Modi visited Bihar and delivered an election speech there. Instead of giving an election speech, the Prime Minister should have attended the all-party meeting,” Mr. Kharge said.

“Mr. Modi should have briefed the leaders about the incident and explained the reasons for the terror attack. The Opposition was keen to know the reasons — whether it was security lapse, intelligence failure, information lapse, police lapse,” Mr. Kharge said.

Noting that tourists were killed after terrorists enquired about their religion, Mr. Kharge said in Karnataka too many leaders speak on caste and religious lines. Educational institutions should not propagate any caste or religion and students too should refrain from caste and religious based interactions, he said.