Govt has no clear strategy: Kharge
Penalise Pak for continued export of terror: CWC to Centre
NEW DELHI, May 2:
The Congress today urged the Centre to act with firmness in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack to penalise Pakistan for its continued export of terror, and pressed for time-bound accountability into the “serious lapses” in security and intelligence in one of the most heavily-guarded regions of the country.
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The opposition party made the assertions in a resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee (CWC), which was chaired by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and general secretaries Jairam Ramesh, K C Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, among others.
“The entire country awaits accountability, answers and justice. In the face of such an unforgivable provocation, the Congress believes this is not a time for politics but a moment that calls for unity, strength, and national resolve.
“We must rise above partisan divides and send out an unambiguous message that India stands together, and will not be broken,” the resolution said.
The Congress also asserted that this is a time for demonstrating “our collective will as a nation to teach Pakistan a lesson and curb terrorism decisively”.
“The masterminds and perpetrators of this cowardly attack must face full consequences for their actions. The Congress urges the Government of India to act with firmness, strategic clarity and international coordination to isolate and penalise Pakistan for its continued export of terror into our territory,” the resolution said.
The Congress also called for sustained moral and institutional support to the families of the victims of the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 persons, mostly holidayers, on April 22.
“Compensation alone is not enough. Long-term rehabilitation, mental health support, and honouring the memory of those lost through national recognition and civic remembrance are equally essential,” the party said.
The CWC reaffirmed its earlier demand for “time-bound accountability” into the “serious lapses” in security and intelligence in one of the most heavily-guarded regions of the country.
The people of India deserve transparency and accountability, the party asserted.
“The CWC stands in solidarity and support with the 26 families, who lost their loved ones in the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam,” the resolution said.
“The pain of these families is the pain of the entire nation. The CWC stands with them, not only in words but in enduring solidarity,” it added.
The CWC also reiterated its appeal to all citizens to remain united, calm and resolute.
“Let our response to this act of terror reflect the strength of our democracy, the depth of our unity, and the resilience of our Republic,” the party said.
Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge today said the Government had not come out with any clear strategy to deal with the situation arising out of the Pahalgam terror attack, even as he asserted that the entire opposition was with the Centre on the issue.
In his remarks at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting at the party’s 24, Akbar Road office, Kharge also said the government had accepted the party’s demand for a caste survey but the timing “surprised us”.
He, however, raised doubts over the Government’s intentions and asked party leaders to remain alert to take the caste survey to a logical conclusion.
The Congress president credited former party chief Rahul Gandhi for the Government’s decision to conduct a caste survey, saying the opposition leader in the Lok Sabha had again proved that if “we raise the issues of the people with honesty, the government has to bow down”.
Noting that the party had extended all possible support to the Centre in the fight against terrorism at the last CWC meeting, Kharge said no clear strategy had come from the government even several days after the Pahalgam attack.
Gandhi had met family members of Shubham Dwivedi in Kanpur and demanded that the government give martyr status and respect to the deceased, he noted.
“We will unitedly and strictly act against any challenge that comes in the way of the country’s unity, integrity and prosperity. The entire opposition is with the government on this issue. We have given this message to the whole world,” Kharge said.
He pointed out that, in the meantime, the Modi government decided to conduct a caste survey alongside the census exercise.
“For this, first of all, I congratulate Rahul ji who, by constantly raising the issue, forced the government to decide on the caste census. You turned it into a powerful campaign during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra … and social justice became the most important issue of the 18th Lok Sabha elections,” Kharge said.
“Rahul ji has again proved that if we raise the issues of the people with honesty, the Government has to bow down. From the Land Acquisition Amendment Bill to withdrawal of the three black farm laws, the caste census has now joined the series of developments in which a stubborn government has had to bow down once again,” Kharge said.
Caste surveys have been completed in Congress-governed Telangana and Karnataka and the findings are being incorporated in framing government schemes, Kharge said.
“During the AICC session in Gujarat as well, we passed a resolution on April 9, reiterating our demand. We also demanded the removal of the 50 per cent cap on reservation. The work of removing this ceiling will be done through a constitutional amendment,” he added. (PTI)
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