Tejashwi Yadav termed Pahalgam attack an intelligence failure

Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav addresses a press conference ahead of the Bihar Assembly Elections, at Sadaqat Ashram in Patna, April 24, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led Grand Alliance on Thursday (April 24, 2025) questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the terror attack in Pahalgam, during its second meeting held at the Congress office in Patna. Former Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav voiced concerns over the lack of security measures at the site where 2,000 people had gathered in Pahalgam, South Kashmir.

Mr. Yadav highlighted the absence of security forces, stating, “Shristi, sister of Navy officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal who was killed in the terrorist attack said that Vinay was alive for one and a half hours but no one came to help. I want to ask, if 2,000 tourists had gathered at one place, why was there no security arrangement? Not a single security personnel was present at the site despite knowing the fact that Pahalgam comes under a high-security zone.” He further pointed out that, “since 2014, there have been 3,982 terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir in which 413 civilians and 630 security personnel have been martyred.”

“Who is responsible for these serious lapses and who will hold the responsibility? Out of political vendetta, the Centre deploys most of the central agencies behind the opposition leaders but they fail to deploy the agencies behind the terrorists,” Mr. Yadav alleged and added, “We don’t mind deploying agencies behind the opposition leaders but at least stop the terrorists.”

Mr. Yadav termed the Pahalgam attack an intelligence failure, asserting, “terrorists must have done the recce and selected the spot before the attack along with a lot of other planning, and the Centre must answer how it happened.” He also questioned the role of the country’s intelligence and surveillance department.

Accompanied by other leaders of the INDIA bloc including Bihar Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru, Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP) President Mukesh Sahani and left parties, Mr. Yadav asked what happened to the probe report of the 2019 Pulwama attack. He questioned, “Every citizen of the country including me wants to know what happened to the Pulwama probe and how did more than 200 kg of RDX reach? Pulwama attack is considered one of the biggest terror incidents of the country in which many Indian soldiers were martyred. What happened to the probe and whose failure was it?”

The RJD leader accused the central government and media organizations of communalizing the issue. “Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP], the Centre and several media organisations are setting a narrative of giving communal angle to hide their own failure. Such an initiative by the BJP is fatal for the country, democracy and constitution and the Grand Alliance strongly opposes it,” Mr. Yadav stated.

Taking a dig at Mr. Modi, Mr. Yadav commented on his visit to Bihar, “He cancelled his Kanpur trip but visited Bihar because an election is there in the State.” He also criticized Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, “Has the Bihar government deputed any of its ministers in Jammu and Kashmir? Has the Bihar government ensured the safe return of the people of Bihar? The Bihar government is so busy with the PM’s rally that they are not bothered about its own people.”

He further attacked Mr. Kumar asking why the Bihar government did not release any helpline number for the people of Bihar who have gone to Kashmir.

At the end of the briefing, the INDIA bloc panel announced it would hold a candle march in Patna on April 25 at 7 p.m., beggining at the Income Tax roundabout leading to Dakbungalow, to pay tribute to the victims. Mr. Yadav said that a candle march would be organised in every district headquarters.

Further, regarding future strategies, “on May 4, leaders of the Grand Alliance will meet to discuss further strategy for the election. All the MLAs, MPs, MLCs of the respective parties and district-level leaders would attend the meeting.”