During a heated debate in the Lok Sabha on Operation Sindoor, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra directly challenged the Modi government regarding the security lapse that led to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025. Vadra questioned the absence of security personnel in the Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, where the attack occurred, resulting in the deaths of 26 individuals.
Vadra criticized the government's narrative of normalcy in Kashmir, highlighting the contradiction between these claims and the reality of the attack. She pointed out that the government had been actively promoting tourism and investment in the region, even encouraging citizens to buy land. Despite these assurances, the attack occurred in a popular tourist area, raising serious questions about the actual security situation.
"How did the Pahalgam attack happen? The government kept promoting that terrorism in Kashmir has ended, then what were terrorists doing in the Baisaran valley?" she asked. She further questioned why there was not a single security personnel present in the area. "Is ensuring the safety and security of citizens not the responsibility of the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Defence Minister?".
Vadra also attacked the government for focusing on historical events and military operations without addressing the specific security failure that allowed the Pahalgam attack to occur. She noted that while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a lengthy speech covering various topics, he failed to explain how and why the attack happened.
"Yesterday, the Defence Minister spoke for an hour and covered many things — but one crucial point was missing. How and why did the April 22 attack happen, where 26 innocent Indians were killed in broad daylight?" Vadra stated.
The Congress MP also responded to accusations made by Home Minister Amit Shah regarding Sonia Gandhi, stating, "My mother's tears fell when her husband was martyred by terrorists". She questioned if the Home Minister or the Intelligence Bureau chief had resigned after the attack, emphasizing the need for accountability.
Mallikarjun Kharge, another Congress leader, echoed Vadra's concerns, questioning the government's claims of dismantling terror infrastructure. He argued that if such infrastructure had indeed been crippled, the Pahalgam attack would not have been possible. Kharge also criticized Prime Minister Modi for campaigning in Bihar instead of attending an all-party meeting to discuss national security.
