Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 2: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra today raised serious concerns over what he termed a “massive security lapse” in the recent Pahalgam terror attack, accusing the BJP-led Government of foreign policy failures.
Click here to watch video
Karra made the remarks at the party headquarters in Srinagar shortly after welcoming senior Peoples Conference leader Mohammad Yousuf Akash, along with dozens of workers, into the Congress fold.
Referring to the April 22 attack in Baisaran, Pahalgam, Karra questioned how militants managed to travel undetected despite repeated Government claims of restored peace following the abrogation of Article 370. “If you have all the power, how did the attackers reach Baisaran from the border? Wasn’t the region declared secure?” he asked at a press conference.
The Congress Chief said that he initially refrained from politicising the incident out of national interest, but it was now time to question the Government’s handling. “This attack was a man-made failure. The Government admitted it during the All-Party Meeting. Media reports revealed there was prior intelligence three days before the attack. What preventive measures were taken?” Karra said.
Criticising India’s foreign policy, Karra alleged the Government allowed third-party interference in the India-Pakistan ceasefire process. “The Shimla Agreement mandates bilateral resolution. But after a U.S. tweet, a sudden ceasefire was announced. Has the Government surrendered our sovereign stance?” he asked.
Accusing the BJP of focusing on public relations abroad instead of addressing domestic security concerns, he said, “Modi has spent thousands of crores on global PR over the last decade, but when India needed support, those nations turned away.”
On the ongoing Kheer Bhawani Mela in Tulmulla, Karra condemned the alleged detention of youth and elderly men. “This festival is about unity, but I am getting calls from young people saying they are being detained. Even 50 to 55 year olds are being locked up. Is this how you promote harmony?” he said, blaming the BJP and the LG-led administration for the law and order situation.
Karra reiterated Congress’s demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a special Parliament session and an all-party meeting to address the situation and provide answers to the people.
Earlier, welcoming Akash and his supporters into the party, Karra called the move a positive step and urged the new entrants to serve the people diligently. Akash, former Secretary of the Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency for the Peoples Conference, hails from Khansaheb in Budgam and is considered a prominent political figure in the region.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
