Crime Today News
New Delhi: The Central government on Thursday, April 25, admitted that no forces were deployed at the site of the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where at least 26 people were gunned down by terrorists.
The Centre claimed they were not informed by the local administration about tourists being taken to Baisaran by tour operators, even as leaders across party lines called for decisive action against terrorism and assured full support.
The government explained that the Baisaran area is customarily secured ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, which begins in June. It is then that the route is officially opened and security forces are deployed to ensure the safety of pilgrims who rest at Baisaran en route to the Amarnath cave shrine.
Government sources further added that local tour operators allegedly began taking tourists to the region starting from April 20, well before the security had been mobilised for the pilgrimage season.
They stressed that the local administration had not been informed about the early commencement of tourist visits, and thus no deployment of troops had occurred.
The officials underlined that deployment of forces takes place based on details provided by tour operators.
During an all-party meeting to discuss the attack, the government said it was taking all measures to ensure security and assured the leaders of action against terrorism and its backers.
It noted that the Pahalgam attack was aimed at vitiating the atmosphere at a time when the economy was on the upswing and tourism in Jammu and Kashmir was booming.
The government did not spell out any action against terrorism during the meeting and the opposition also did not seek any such details.
After the meeting, all leaders assured their full support to any government action against the perpetrators of the terror attack, including Pakistan.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said everyone agreed that India should fight terror unitedly and all parties said that they are with the government in this fight.
All political parties have given this message and their leaders have said in one voice that whatever step the government takes, they will support it.
Rijiju said the government assured leaders of action against terrorism and its backers.
“All the political leaders have in unanimous voice supported the action taken by the CCS with regard to Pakistan and also unanimously expressed support for any future action the government will take to fight terrorism. “I feel that after this all-party meeting, we will succeed in this fight against terrorism and will act against Pakistan and its supporters who are behind this terror attack and remain united,” Rijiju said.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said everyone at the meeting unequivocally condemned the terror attack and offered full support to the government. “The opposition has given full support to the government to take any action,” he said. Gandhi too raised the issue of security lapses at the tourist spot, asking why no security personnel were deployed there.
The issue was later raised by several opposition leaders during the meeting.
There has been a security lapse and the government did not act promptly after the attack, some of the opposition leaders claimed.
“We will support the government decision in the best interest of the nation,” Kharge said.
Calls for accountability and action
Some leaders, including Kharge and AAP’s Sanjay Singh, questioned the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the meeting. TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay demanded that the Prime Minister convene a meeting of all party chiefs at the earliest.
Sanjay Singh said all parties demanded action by the government for the destruction of terror camps.
Bandhyopadhyay said the issue of possible security lapses was also discussed but the opposition assured that it was with the government in the fight against terrorism.
“The nation must be totally united in this fight to eliminate terrorism,” he said.
TDP’s Lavu Krishna Devarayalu said Pakistan will face repercussions for the Pahalgam attack.
“The incident that happened is condemnable. Two people from Andhra Pradesh were killed in this attack. This kind of incident should not have happened. Pakistan and terrorist organisations will face the repercussions,” he said.
Every party is on the same page in supporting the government to take stringent action, he added.
Meet begins with a moment of silence
The meeting began with a moment of silence for the victims of the attack.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh initiated the discussion at the meeting and Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka made a 20-minute presentation on the attack and the steps being taken to step up security.
Later, he answered questions of several leaders and Home Minister Amit Shah interjected wherever required.
Opposition MPs spoke about their sentiments but there were no heated exchanges in the meeting.
Citing UN resolutions, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said the government can take action against any nation that shelters terrorist groups.
“The international law also permits us to conduct air and naval blockade in self-defence against Pakistan,” he noted, while condemning the manner in which people were gunned down after asking their religion.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were also present at the meeting from the government’s side.
Besides Kharge and Gandhi, Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha and BJP president J P Nadda attended the meeting, which was chaired by Rajnath Singh.
Others who attended the meeting included NCP-SP’s Supriya Sule, NCP’s Praful Patel, BJD’s Sasmit Patra, Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde, RJD’s Premchand Gupta, DMK’s Tiruchi Siva and SP’s Ram Gopal Yadav.
(With inputs from PTI)
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