‘PM Modi got intel, cancelled J&K visit before Pahalgam attack,’ alleges Kharge

Jharkhand: At a rally in Ranchi, Jharkhand on Tuesday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge raised serious questions about the Centre’s handling of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed.

Speaking at the ‘Samvidhan Bachao’ rally, Kharge claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had received an intelligence warning three days before the attack, but no preventive action was taken.

Kharge alleged that Modi even cancelled a planned visit to Kashmir on the basis of this intelligence. “If the intelligence report was strong enough for the PM to avoid the visit, why weren’t steps taken to protect tourists and civilians?” he asked, while accusing the government of negligence.

He further said the government had already admitted an intelligence failure and promised rectification, but reiterated that the attack could have been prevented if the warning had been acted upon.

Despite the criticism, Kharge declared that the Congress would support any strong decision taken by the government against Pakistan. “We stand with the government on national security matters. We have made sacrifices for this country and will continue to do so,” he said, referencing the assassination of Indira Gandhi and the legacy of Sonia Gandhi.

Turning to domestic issues, Kharge commented on the caste census, saying the BJP has now embraced what Rahul Gandhi had been demanding. “You accused Rahul of dividing the nation, but now you're following his lead,” he said.

The Pahalgam attack has significantly raised tensions between India and Pakistan. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met on April 23 to assess the situation, following which the Indian government suspended the Indus Water Treaty as part of its diplomatic response to Pakistan's alleged support for cross-border terrorism.