Congress president Kharge claims PM Modi had 'prior intel' on Pahalgam attack, cancelled Kashmir visit

Amid rising India-Pakistan tensions, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had received an "intelligence report" three days before the Pahalgam terror attack. He added that Modi cancelled his Jammu and Kashmir visit as he received the intel. 

 

While addressing the 'Sanvidhan Bachao Rally' in Ranchi, Kharge asked, "Why the Centre did not deploy more security even after having intelligence report on terror attack?"

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"Shouldn't Centre be accountable for the loss of lives in the Pahalgam attack when it accepted intelligence failure," he said. 

 

Congress has earlier accused the Narendra Modi-led government of serious "lapses in security and intelligence" and criticised the Centre for not coming up with a clear strategy to deal with the Pahalgam terror attack situation, that killed 26 people. 

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Kharge also extended Congress's full support to the government for any action against Pakistan. "Country supreme beyond party," he said. 

 

Kharge had said that the Centre accepted "intelligence failure" during an all-party meeting and held itself accountable for not reinforcing" security arrangements in Kashmir to protect people. 

 

Meanwhile, hitting back at Kharge's remarks, the BJP said that Congress's intention is to "lower the morale of security forces". 

 

Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi's comment came at a critical time when the "fight against terrorism and Pakistan was at a decisive juncture". 

 

Marandi also criticised Congress for indulging in politics when the nation is fighting against terror. 

 

Ahead of the nationwide mock drill on Wednesday, a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Tuesday discussed how to conduct the mock drill with active participation of the people. Mock drill is set to take place in about 300 ‘civil defence districts’ in India. 

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