Parliament condemns Gurdaspur terror strike, SAD questions Centre

NEW DELHI: The Gurdaspur attack today drew widespread condemnation and resonated in Parliament where government was urged to use full force to quell terrorism even as BJP ally SAD questioned the Centre why Punjab border was not sealed if there was an input about an impending strike.

Cutting across party lines in their condemnation, political leaders said the first major terror attack in Punjab after eight years was "startling" and "cowardly" with former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abullah saying an attempt was being made to open a new front along J and K.

As investigations were underway whether the militants came from J and K which borders Punjab or from Pakistan after crossing the land border, Congress raised questions whether there was a security lapse and failure of intelligence agencies.

Members of Akali Dal, BJP, Congress CPI(M) and BJD expressed their anguish over the attack during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha amidst the din created by some opposition parties.

Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge said there was an intelligence failure on part of the central government.

The Gurdaspur attack was a "grave matter" which shows that "once again terrorism is back with full force", BJD member Tathagat Sathpathy said, adding, "It is not only display of ISIS flags, the threat of terrorism is perceptible here. The threat is right here in the country."

Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh said there have been reports earlier also of infiltration from Pakistan and "cross-border mischief" in the "vulnerable" zone on the Indian side of the border.

Putting the onus on the Centre, SAD leader and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said that the border should have been sealed if there was an input about an impending terror attack in Punjab.

"The terrorists didn't come from Punjab, they came from the border. If there was an input then it was their (Centre's) job to seal the border..," Badal said, adding, "militancy is a national problem".

Congress leader Anand Sharma said if the terrorists had managed to cross the border, questions will be raised if there is a security lapse and failure of intelligence agencies.

Actor-turned politician Vinod Khanna, a four-time BJP MP from Gurdaspur, termed the terrorist attack in his constituency as "shocking and unfortunate".

Several activists of Shiv Sena burnt the Pakistani flag in Phagwara in Punjab to protest "Pak-sponsored" terror attack.