‘Takes Credit but Not Blame’: Priyanka Gandhi Slams Centre Over Pahalgam Security Lapse

‘Takes Credit but Not Blame’: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday asked why the security was so complacent that Pahalgam was attacked. She targeted the BJP-led NDA government for blaming Congress for all of India’s problems despite being in power for 11 years and defended her mother Sonia Gandhi.

“My mother’s tears were not for terrorists. They fell when my father was killed by them. Today, when I talk about the 26 people killed in Pahalgam, it’s because I know the pain,” Vadra said, addressing the treasury benches.

After the Mumbai terror attacks, the then Maharashtra CM and then Home Minister had resigned, why didn’t the Home Minister Amit Shah resign or take responsibility for this attack, she asked.

She also took a dig at PM Narendra Modi, saying leadership is not just about taking credit but also taking responsibility.

Participating in a special discussion in Lok Sabha on "India's strong, successful and decisive Operation Sindoor in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam", Priyanka Gandhi said that if no aircraft had been downed during Operation Sindoor then what is the problem in stating this in Parliament.

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Earlier, Union home minister Shah had cited former Union Minister Salman Khurshid’s televised comments following the Batla House encounter on September 18, 2008: “He said Sonia Gandhi broke down after seeing the encounter photos. If anyone deserved tears, it was Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma and not the terrorists. It’s shameful.”

Gandhi Vadra’s speech was sharp and emotional during the debate on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha.

She further said, “Yesterday, the defence minister spoke for over an hour. He gave a history lecture, spoke of terrorism and national security. But one question remained unanswered: How did this attack happen?”

She went on to ask: “Why was not even one security personnel present in Baisaran Valley when the terrorists struck? What were they [the terrorists] doing there? And if the government was promoting Kashmir as safe, why were 26 civilians left to die without any protection?”

Reading from a sheet of paper, Vadra listed out the names of the victims of Pahalgam attack. The House got tense as some BJP MPs started chanting “Hindu, Hindu” and the Opposition benches retorted with “Indian! Indian!” All the victims were men and 25 of them were Hindu.

“Those 26 civilians went to Baisaran on this government’s responsibility. But the government left them on God’s responsibility,” Vadra said. “The TRF [The Resistance Front] which carried out the attack was formed in 2019. Since then, they have killed army officials, police personnel, civilians. They were only designated as a terror outfit in 2023. What were intelligence and security agencies doing? Has even one official resigned for this security lapse?”

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She also took on BJP MPs who interrupted her by invoking Jawaharlal Nehru. “You talk about the past, we talk about the present. You’ve been in power for 11 years — take some responsibility,” she said. “After 26/11, the Maharashtra chief minister and home minister resigned. All the terrorists were killed on the spot. This government takes all the credit, but refuses to take any blame.”

Her remarks came during a heated debate on Operation Sindoor. The Opposition is saying instead of optics, focus should be on accountability for the lapse in security.

“If Pakistan had no resort apart from surrender, why did this war stop?” Gandhi Vadra asked, questioning the terms of the current ceasefire. “Why was the ceasefire announced by the US President? You claim muscular nationalism but fall silent when asked who failed to protect Indian civilians on Indian soil.”

Throughout the session, several Opposition MPs thumped their desks in support of Vadra while BJP MPs tried to shout her down.

“The government doesn’t want to answer any questions,” Vadra said. “It’s all about publicity, not people. Every crisis becomes a stage for PR. But where is the accountability? Where is the responsibility?”

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