Kharge blames Union govt. for Pahalgam killings
'Mr. Modi was scheduled to visit Kashmir on April 17 but cancelled his trip after receiving an intelligence report regarding the security situation in the Valley. If he was aware of the threat, why were no measures taken to protect tourists? Why was no warning issued advising tourists to avoid the region? Had he done so, 26 lives could have been saved and the small armed clashes with Pakistan could have been avoided,' Mr. Kharge said.
He was addressing the Samarpana Sankalpa Samavesha in Hosapete, Vijayanagara district, on Tuesday to mark the completion of two years of Congress rule in Karnataka.
Mr. Kharge further criticised the Union government's handling of intelligence stating: 'Pakistan is attempting to destabilise India with China's support, but we will not allow it. We are united. For us nation comes first; caste, religion and other differences come later. For some people, Mr. Modi comes first, and the country later. Intelligence inputs are used to protect the Prime Minister but not shared in ways that could safeguard ordinary citizens.'
Highlighting the Congress' historic role in India's freedom struggle, Mr. Kharge accused the Union government of targeting the party through Central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Income Tax Department.
'Your attempts to weaken us will not succeed. The Congress will never bow to threats. Without consulting us, the government unilaterally decided the composition of the delegation responsible for briefing foreign governments on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Yet, in the interest of national unity, we accepted it. The Congress won India's freedom and drafted the Constitution. It is our duty to protect both, we will do it,' he said.
Taking an aim at the Prime Minister's absence from critical national discussions, Mr. Kharge added: 'When we attend meetings to deliberate on national issues, Mr. Modi chooses to campaign in Bihar. Two all-party meetings were organised, he did not attend either. If he truly cares for the country, why did he not participate? Had we skipped the meetings, we would have been branded anti-national.'
The event was attended by several senior Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, and others.
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