Sanjay Raut Targets Centre Over Pahalgam Attack During Lok Sabha Debate on Operation Sindoor

New Delhi: As the Lok Sabha opened its high-voltage debate on Operation Sindoor, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut launched a fierce attack on the central government, holding it directly responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians in Jammu & Kashmir.

Speaking to the media ahead of the debate, Raut questioned the government’s preparedness and intent in dealing with internal security threats. “At that time, we had demanded a two-day special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam tragedy. Now, two days of debate are finally happening because we pushed for it,” said Raut. “But I don’t think Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate. If he does, he will have to face uncomfortable questions about President Trump’s ceasefire claim and more.”

Raut described the Pahalgam incident as a major security lapse under the watch of the Union government, which directly administers Jammu & Kashmir. “Terrorists managed to infiltrate and travel 400 km into J&K without being intercepted. They killed innocents and vanished. Even today, we don’t know where they are. This is a massive failure of the Home Ministry. The Home Minister should have resigned,” he said.

The MP also came out in partial support of Congress leader P. Chidambaram, who had questioned the government’s claim that the attackers came from Pakistan. “Chidambaram sahib might be saying the right thing,” Raut remarked. “Instead of dismissing his comment as anti-national, we should introspect. The Home Minister must take responsibility.”

Raut’s statements added fuel to what has already become a heated and politically charged debate in Parliament. The Operation Sindoor debate was scheduled following intense pressure from the Opposition, with multiple parties demanding answers from the government on the intelligence failure, the timing and execution of the cross-border strikes, and the global diplomatic fallout.