PM Modi cancelled Kashmir visit after receiving intelligence report on terror attack, alleges Mallikarjun Kharge

Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president file pic

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to alert security forces despite receiving intelligence warnings ahead of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists on April 22, 2025, in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking on Tuesday, Kharge claimed that PM Modi cancelled his scheduled visit to Kashmir after receiving an intelligence report three days before the attack but did not inform the concerned security agencies or forces to strengthen security in Pahalgam.

"I received information that three days before the attack, an intelligence alert was sent to Modi Ji. That's why he cancelled his visit to Kashmir. If there was a threat to your security, why didn't you alert the security forces, intelligence agencies, local police, and border forces to protect the public?" Kharge questioned. "You cancelled your visit, but didn't send additional forces to protect the tourists?" according to the reports from PTI.

Highlighting the seriousness of the tragedy, he stated that 26 people, mostly tourists, lost their lives in the terror attack on April 22.

At the ‘Samvidhan Bachao' rally held in Ranchi, Jharkhand's capital, Kharge further claimed that during an all-party meeting, Prime Minister Modi admitted there had been an intelligence lapse. "Shouldn't the Centre be held accountable for the loss of lives when it has accepted a failure in intelligence?" he asked.

Kharge emphasized that the Congress supports any strong response or the stand the Centre might take against Pakistan following the attack, stating, "The nation is above party, religion, and caste. We stand united in any action the government takes in response to the Pahalgam attack."

Further speaking to the media Kharge said that, "We have already stated that whatever strong decisions the government takes against Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, we will stand with the government. Because this is a matter of national security. The country comes first; everything else is secondary. We have made sacrifices for this nation," according to ANI.

He further demanded that the Centre should be held responsible for not reinforcing security arrangements in Kashmir, despite being alerted by intelligence reports prior to the attack.

(With inputs from PTI)