In a sharp and emotionally charged address in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday took aim at the Union government over its handling of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, questioning how such a major lapse in security was allowed to occur despite repeated claims of peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
Participating in the debate surrounding Operation Sindoor, Gandhi criticised the ministers for focusing on military operations and historical blame games without offering clarity on the actual security failure that led to the killing of 26 civilians in a tourist-heavy area.
“I heard the speeches of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other ministers. They spoke about everything — Operation Sindoor, terrorism, national security, and even gave history lessons. But what was missing was this: how exactly did the Pahalgam attack happen?” she asked.
The Congress leader directly challenged the Centre’s narrative of peace in Kashmir, pointing out that the government had engaged in consistent publicity campaigns suggesting terrorism had been eliminated and normalcy restored.
“The Prime Minister himself has given speeches urging citizens to visit Kashmir, saying it’s safe. People were even encouraged to buy land there. And yet, on April 22, when the weather was pleasant and 1,500 tourists were enjoying the Baisaran Valley, four terrorists opened fire, killing 26 people — including Shubham Dwivedi, who was having tea with his wife,” she said.
Gandhi raised serious concerns about the lack of security personnel in the area, and the absence of even basic first aid or emergency arrangements, asking who was accountable for this grave lapse.
“People went there trusting the government, but were left to the mercy of God. Is the responsibility of the country’s security not with the defence minister? Is it not with the home minister?” she said.
Her remarks come after Home Minister Amit Shah detailed India’s swift counter-response through Operations Mahadev and Sindoor, which led to the killing of the terrorists involved. However, Priyanka Gandhi’s critique highlighted a broader concern: Why wasn’t the attack prevented in the first place?
The speech sparked murmurs in the House, reflecting the growing political divide over the Centre’s approach to Kashmir and counter-terror strategy in the aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre.
