New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not attending the all-party meeting called to discuss the recent Pahalgam terror attack. Kharge claimed that during the meeting, the government had acknowledged there were security lapses that led to the attack which killed at least 26 people and left many injured.
Kharge, who attended the meeting along with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other political leaders, expressed his dissatisfaction to reporters: “The first question I raised was about the Prime Minister’s absence. When the government calls such an important meeting after such a tragic incident, the Prime Minister should have been present. His absence was not right.”
On the government’s decision to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan as part of its response to the attack, Kharge raised practical concerns: “Where does the government plan to store the water now? These are important questions, but we will raise them at the appropriate time.” The Congress president emphasized that while his party stands with the government on matters of national security, critical issues need proper discussion.
The all-party meeting, called by Home Minister Amit Shah, saw participation from across the political spectrum. However, the Prime Minister’s absence became a focal point of criticism from opposition leaders who argued that his presence was essential given the gravity of the situation.
