In an all-party meeting convened after the Pahalgam terror attack, the government admitted to discussing security lapses. While the opposition offered its full support for counter-terrorism measures, leaders like Kharge and Owaisi raised serious questions about these failures and the government’s response.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, April 24, 2025 – In the aftermath of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, the central government convened a crucial all-party meeting on Thursday, fostering a unified national stance against terrorism. While the opposition parties extended their complete support to the Centre’s decisive actions in combating terror, the government acknowledged that security lapses were a point of serious concern and deliberation during the meeting.
The briefing on the Pahalgam tragedy and the government’s subsequent strategic decisions, as formulated by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), was led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. BJP leader Kiren Rijiju, who provided a glimpse into the proceedings, underscored the government’s unwavering “zero-tolerance” policy towards terrorism and its firm resolve to implement stringent measures in response to the attack.
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The meeting witnessed the participation of a broad spectrum of prominent political leaders, including BJP National President JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Kiren Rijiju, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, signifying a collective national engagement with the crisis.
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किरेन रिजीजू ने सर्वदलीय बैठक में हुए चर्चा को ANI के माध्यम से लोगो तक पहुंचने का प्रयास किया।
चर्चा को विस्तार से सुने।
सभी दलों ने सरकार समर्थन किया। pic.twitter.com/8LxubdIsFM— कृपा शंकर (@KripaSh75508777) April 24, 2025
A noteworthy aspect of Rijiju’s address to the media was his explicit statement that “security lapses were also discussed during the meeting.” This admission marked a crucial point in the narrative, indicating an internal recognition within the government of potential vulnerabilities that might have contributed to the tragic incident. Rijiju further elaborated that the discussions involved insights from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and officials from the Home Ministry, who provided detailed information regarding the sequence of events, the circumstances surrounding the attack, and crucially, “where the lapse happened.”
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The sentiment of national unity in the face of terrorism was echoed by Rijiju, who highlighted the shared concern over the disruption of the previously improving peaceful environment in Kashmir. “All political parties shared their views and there was a consensus that the country should stand united and speak with one voice against terrorism,” he said.
He also conveyed the opposition’s commitment to this unified fight, stating that India has historically taken strong action against terrorism and would continue to do so. “All parties said that they are with the government in this fight against terrorism… The meeting ended on a positive note,” Rijiju concluded, acknowledging the profound sadness and national worry stemming from the Pahalgam attack and hinting at the government’s intention to adopt even more stringent counter-terrorism strategies.
Following the all-party consensus, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi made a significant announcement, pledging the opposition’s full cooperation with the government’s endeavors. “We have uniformly condemned this act and the opposition gave its full support to the government to take any action,” Gandhi stated. Demonstrating his direct engagement with the aftermath of the attack, Gandhi, who had cut short his official visit to the US, announced his plan to visit Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. This visit underscores the opposition’s commitment to standing in solidarity with the affected region and understanding the ground realities.
However, while a united front against terrorism was presented, the issue of security lapses became a focal point of concern for several opposition leaders. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, while condemning the terror attack and expressing the party’s desire for peace in Kashmir, pointedly questioned the security breach despite the existing three-tier security framework. “How did the security lapse happen despite three-tier security? This is a security lapse and the government did not act promptly in response to the terror attack,” Kharge asserted. His remarks highlighted the critical need for accountability and a thorough review of the security protocols in place.
Delhi: After attending the all-party meeting convened by the central government, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge ji says, “Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also there. All parties condemned the #PahalgamTerroristAttack.… pic.twitter.com/IAo5WUut4R
— Mini Nagrare (@MiniforIYC) April 24, 2025
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AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi went further, not only condemning the attack but also urging the Centre to take decisive action against nations providing safe havens to terrorists, explicitly mentioning Pakistan. He suggested measures permissible under international law, such as air and naval blockades and sanctions on arms sales. Owaisi also raised specific questions about the deployment and response mechanisms of security forces at the attack site, questioning the absence of CRPF at a key location and the delayed response of the quick reaction team. Furthermore, he vehemently condemned the targeting of individuals based on their religion during the attack and called for an end to “false propaganda against Kashmiris.”
AAP MP Sanjay Singh echoed the national sentiment of anger and sadness, demanding a forceful retaliation against the terrorists and action against Pakistan. He specifically highlighted alleged security failures, claiming that the attack site was opened without the knowledge of security agencies just days before the incident. Singh called for fixing accountability for these security lapses and ensuring that stringent action is taken.
