'if Nothing Had Gone Wrong...': Govt Admits To Security Lapses In Pahalgam; Rahul Gandhi Says, 'full Support'

The Central authorities connected Thursday admitted that location were information lapses that led to nan caller onslaught successful Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam during a closed-door all-party meeting, India Today TV reported.

The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, took spot in the aftermath of nan onslaught successful Pahalgam that claimed nan lives of 26 people, mostly tourists. Many eyewitnesses claimed that nan victims were asked astir their belief earlier they were changeable dead. 

Senior ministers including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, represented nan authorities astatine nan all-party meeting.

Leader of nan House successful Rajya Sabha JP Nadda, Leader of Opposition successful Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, and Lok Sabha Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi were besides among nan leaders coming astatine nan meet. 

What went down during nan meeting? 

"If thing had gone wrong, why would we beryllium sitting here? There person been lapses location that we person to find out," a leader from nan ruling confederation reportedly said during nan gathering arsenic per sources. 

Opposition parts besides questioned nan authorities astir nan deployment of information forces successful nan area. "Where were nan information forces? Where was nan Central Reserve Police Force?" respective guidance leaders asked. 

While responding to this query, nan authorities said section authorities did not pass information agencies earlier opening nan Baisaran meadow area adjacent Pahalgam, which traditionally remains restricted until nan Amarnath Yatra successful June. 

Questions were besides asked connected nan delayed consequence to nan incident. Government officials reportedly described nan tract arsenic a 45-minute uphill locomotion and nary modular operating process (SOP) was successful spot to grip specified emergencies swiftly. 

While Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called for efforts to support bid successful Jammu and Kashmir, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh said nan authorities should springiness "a befitting reply to nan terrorists successful their language". 

Singh besides demanded strict action against Pakistan and nan demolition of panic camps. AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi requested to not politicise nan panic attacks while extending his support to "whatever determination nan authorities takes". 

Talking to reporters aft nan meeting, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that each parties person agreed that India should conflict coercion unitedly.

"All governmental parties person fixed this connection and nan leaders of each parties person said successful 1 sound that immoderate measurement nan authorities takes, we will support it. The gathering ended connected a affirmative note," Rijiju said.

Rahul Gandhi said: "Everyone condemned nan Pahalgam violent attack. The Opposition has fixed afloat support to nan authorities to return immoderate action." 

Published on: Apr 25, 2025 7:37 AM IST