Pahalgam terror attack: Mamata Banerjee slams Centre for intel failure

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday slammed the Centre for major security and intelligence lapses and the “total failure in stopping the Pahalgam terror attack”. Banerjee said there was an opportunity to capture Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the Pahalgam attack, when the combined armed forces had shown such valour. She criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for marketing Operation Sindoor.

“In Pahalgam, many people lost their lives. When people died, you (Modi) are campaigning. We respect Sindoor. Sindoor is worn by women but you are shaming women’s sindoor,” Banerjee said in the assembly, which led to protests by the BJP.

“The Centre should have been more stringent as there have been major security lapses. Where did the terrorists come from? How did they get the weapons and disappear? Why have they not been caught till now,” Banerjee asked.


Talking about that the External Affairs minister, Banerjee said he was a bureaucrat earlier and a nice gentleman, but “there must have been some lapses”.

The assembly tabled and passed a resolution on Pahalgam on Tuesday honouring the role of the armed forces for their precision strikes against Pakistan and PoK and to condemn the attack on tourists in Pahalgam. Discussions were held by both the ruling party and Opposition BJP for two hours.

“I express gratitude to the three armed forces –– Army, Navy and Air Force. We salute them. I believe terrorism has no religion and no one can be pardoned,” she said, adding that Bengal assembly was the first where such a resolution has been passed and it should be replicated in all state assemblies, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

She criticised the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) bailout to Pakistan, saying that the country was being granted a loan, instead of being ‘globally cornered’.

Banerjee said that before elections, there should not be any ‘Pulwama-like incidents’, to which BJP MLAs protested.

Banerjee said, “We don't support terrorism. Terror has no caste, creed and religion. The attack on tourists in Pahalgam and the way people were killed, we condemn and condole it. We are in solidarity with their families. Those who lost their lives included army personnel Jhhantu Ali Sheikh. Adil, a porter and a minority youth, sacrificed his life."

Banerjee also mentioned that in Gujarat, which shares borders with Pakistan, and which is the home state of PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Pak spies were arrested for passing on information.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari thanked the Chair for moving the resolution. “We support the resolution and participated in the debate,” he said.

Adhikari said for the BJP, the nation comes first. “We salute our soldiers, and honour those who have sacrificed their lives. Former PM, the late Atal Behari Vajpayee, had made APJ Abdul Kalam the first Muslim President, and your party voted for him. Our fight is not against any community; it is against those who live in India but engage in anti-India activities. We strongly oppose anyone who supports the Ansarullah Bangla Team,” Adhikari said.

“It was a targeted killing (Hindu community) in Pahalgam. They were forced to recite the Kalma. Bitan Adhikari’s (who was killed in Pahalgam) widow told me this. Similarly, Samir Guha’s wife from Behala said the same. They identified Hindus and killed them. Yes, Adil Shah was killed,” Adhikari said.

Adhikari asked why the name ‘Operation Sindoor’ was missing in the resolution and urged the Speaker to bring an amendment to include it.