Latest news with #Priyanka
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Parliament Monsoon session: Priyanka, Akhilesh & Kanimozhi target government over Pahalgam attack
NEW DELHI: Charges of lack of "govt accountability" for repeated terror attacks , ceasefire under pressure and govt's refusal to "name" China echoed in LS as Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra , SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and DMK's Kanimozhi led the charge in targeting BJP over the Pahalgam attack and the conflict with Pakistan. Priyanka mocked that Pulwama, Uri, Pathankot terror attacks took place under then home minister Rajnath Singh, who later became the defence minister, while Manipur and Delhi burnt in riots and Pahalgam attack happened under Amit Shah, who continues to be home minister. Akhilesh said Pahalgam happened just like the Pulwama attack, with the same intelligence failure at its heart. He questioned the abrupt ceasefire just when India was on the verge of teaching a lifetime lesson to Pakistan. He attributed the ceasefire to "deep friendship", without naming Modi or Trump. About the killing of three terrorists coinciding with the Parliament debate, Akhilesh asked "why did the encounter happen only yesterday?" Opposition also slammed BJP for using the Pahalgam tragedy for "communal campaign". In a bizarre scene, as Priyanka named the 25 victims of Pahalgam "who were Indian", BJP members shouted they were all Hindus. The speech ended with her naming them, and Congress and BJP benches shouting "Indian" and "Hindu" respectively in loud chorus. tnn
The Print
a day ago
- Politics
- The Print
Slain Pahalgam tourists were ‘Bharatiya' or ‘Hindus'? Priyanka vs BJP, a tense exchange in Parliament
'In this House, nearly everyone has security forces protecting them wherever they go. That day, in Pahalgam, 26 families were devastated. There were 26 sons, husbands and fathers who were killed. Out of them, 25 were Indians,' said Priyanka. The sharp exchange between the treasury and Opposition benches capped Priyanka's speech, in which she called the Pahalgam killings a 'major failure of Indian agencies', and said no number of military operations could help the government 'hide behind the truth' that it failed to protect Indian lives. New Delhi: In a charged moment in the Lok Sabha during the debate on Operation Sindoor, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Tuesday read out the names of the 25 Indians killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, framing their identity as ' Bharatiya ', as members of the ruling BJP interjected with shouts of 'Hindus'. Immediately, a few members from the treasury benches interjected, with shouts of 'Hindus'. Priyanka paused, looked up, and responded, 'Bharatiya the (they were Indians).' The remark drew loud desk-thumping from the Opposition benches. 'Those who were in the Baisaran Valley, and the 25 Indians who were killed, there was no security for them. No matter how many operations you carry out, you cannot hide behind this truth. You could not keep them safe,' she said, going on to name all the 25 slain Indian tourists. 'I want to read out the names of those 25 Indians so that every member sitting here realises that they were also humans like us, not pawns in a larger political game. They are also martyrs of this country. Their family members deserve to know the truth,' said the Congress general secretary. Speaking before Priyanka, Home Minister Amit Shah claimed in his speech that Sonia Gandhi had broken down after the Batla House encounter. 'She should have cried for Shaheed Mohan Sharma instead of the terrorists of the Batla House,' he'd said earlier in the day. In her speech, Priyanka responded to Shah. 'He spoke about my mother's tears. My mother cried when her husband was martyred by terrorists. When she was all of 44. I talk about the pain of the families because I can actually feel their pain and anguish,' she said. Priyanka also sought to counter Shah, who listed the terror attacks that happened during the rule of Congress-led UPA I and UPA II, pointing out that following the Mumbai attacks in 2008, the then home minister Shivraj Patil and Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh resigned. 'Under the home minister. Manipur is burning, there were riots in Delhi, attack in Pahalgam. He is still occupying the chair. Why? Why was there no security at Baisaran Valley? There was no security, no first aid. You left them at the mercy of God. Are the prime minister, home minister, defence minister, NSA not responsible?' she said. On Shah blaming Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi for certain foreign policy and military moves which, he said, were detrimental to India's interests, Priyanka said, 'You dwell on history, I want to talk of the present. You just need an excuse to blame my family. You have been in power for the past 11 years. Take your own responsibility.' Priyanka also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he wants to walk away with the credit of Operation Sindoor, just like 'claiming credit for Indian athletes winning medals at the Olympics'. But leadership is also about owning up responsibility, she said, terming US President Donald Trump's announcement of a 'ceasefire' between India and Pakistan 10 May as the biggest symbol of Modi being an 'irresponsible' PM. She also referred to Shah's statement that Pakistan approached India, urging to stop the military action. 'The home minister claimed that Pakistan sought India's sharan as it was left with no option. But why did you give sharan? Why did this ceasefire happen? Why did the war end?' she said, echoing remarks made by Congress's Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi on Monday. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: 'Pakistan firm sought Pahalgam satellite images, how did you miss that?' Kanimozhi rips into Modi govt
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
They Were Indians: Priyanka Gandhi Shuts Down BJP's Communal Spin To Pahalgam Victims
In a powerful speech during the Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra silenced attempts to give a communal twist to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 civilians were killed. Responding to murmurs that the victims were 'Hindus,' Priyanka asserted, 'Bharatiye the' (they were Indians). She reminded the house of her father's assassination and her mother's tears, calling for unity over division and accountability over blame-shifting. Slamming the Modi government for failures in security, she accused the BJP of seeking historical scapegoats instead of addressing the present. 'You've been in power for 11 years. Where's the responsibility?' she asked, pointing to the dismissive attitude of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This video dissects her most impactful lines, the political reactions, and the deeper battle over the soul of India's democracy.#operationsindoor #operationmahadev #priyankagandhi #priyankagandhispeech #operationmahadev #pok #parliamentdebate #terrorism #modivsakhilesh #sindoorstrike #pakistan #parliament #loksabha #loksabhadebate #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews Read More
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Govt left them on God's will: Priyanka corners Centre over Pahalgam attack
Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday launched a strong attack on the central government during a Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor. She criticised the "lack of security for tourists" in Jammu and Kashmir's Baisaran meadow. To recall, the attack in Pahalgam on April 22 left 26 civilians dead. Citing the account of Ashanya Dwivedi, the widow of one of the victims, Priyanka Gandhi highlighted the alleged absence of any security personnel at the site during the hour-long attack. "The whole time when the people were being killed mercilessly, she did not see one security personnel," Priyanka said. Why no security there: Priyanka She quoted Ashanya as saying: "When citizens were being killed one by one for an hour, there wasn't a single security personnel. I saw my world ending in front of my eyes, there was not a single security guard. Why was there no security there?" Priyanka added: "I saw my world finishing before my eyes, not one security guard was there. I can see that the government left us like orphans there." The Congress leader questioned why there were no emergency arrangements in place. "Why was security not there? Why was there not a soldier? Did the government not know that there is daily footfall here? They know that the way to the place is through the forest, so if something else happened then people could not get out. There was not even one facility for treatment, first aid or even security. The people were left alone. They went on the trust of the government, and the government left them on God's will." Amid Opposition members chanting 'shame, shame', Priyanka asked: "I want to ask who is responsible for this? Who is responsible for the security of the people? Is the Prime Minister not responsible? Is the Home Minister or Defence Minister not responsible? Is the NIA not responsible?" No one questioning J-K LG: Priyanka She pointed out that just two weeks before the incident, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had visited Kashmir and declared a victory over terrorism. "Just two weeks before the attack, our home minister went to Kashmir, to see the security arrangements in the region and he said that victory has been achieved over terrorism." Priyanka also noted that Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had admitted responsibility for the security lapse but faced no further questioning. "Three months later, the Jammu and Kashmir Governor said in an interview while walking, yes, there was irresponsibility in Baisaran valley, I take responsibility for that. The topic starts and finishes there, no one questions him." She recalled how the home minister had previously criticised the UPA government for 25 terror attacks and compared it to the current situation. "Few days after (Pahalgam attack), a terrorist organisation, TRF, claimed responsibility for the attack. Who are they? They started in 2017 and started their terrorism work in Kashmir in 2020. Between 2020, to April 22, 2025, they did 25 terror attacks. When the home minister counted the terror attacks during UPA's tenure, he counted around 25 too, in his speech. This organisation itself has done 25 attacks between 2020 to 2025." Priyanka questions PM Modi's Leadership Continuing her criticism, Priyanka said leadership should include responsibility, not just credit. Referring to the announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan being made by US President Donald Trump, she questioned PM Modi's role. "Leadership is not just about taking credit but responsibility also needs to be taken... First time in the history of our country, a war was stopped abruptly and the announcement of the decision was made by the US President. This is reflective of the irresponsibility of our Prime Minister." She repeated: "Leadership is not just about taking credit but responsibility also needs to be taken... First time, a war was stopped abruptly and the announcement of the decision was made by the US President. This shows irresponsibility of our prime diplomacy has been unsuccessful." DMK MP Kanimozhi backs criticism Earlier in the debate, DMK MP Kanimozhi also criticised the government's handling of the situation, accusing it of avoiding accountability. "What has the 'Vishwaguru' learnt from these terror attacks? You can't keep talking about Operation Sindoor and expect us not to ask questions. This is a failure of a government that has failed the people of this country. You can't keep talking about the past and expect us to forget today's issues. Vishwaguru has not learnt any lessons. He has not taught anything." She also accused the government of excluding the Opposition from national security briefings and promoting divisive politics.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'They were Bharatiyas': Priyanka Gandhi counters MP's 'Hindus killed' remark in Pahalgam debate
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday locked horns with several MPs in Lok Sabha over the identity of the Pahalgam terror attack victims, countering repeated interruptions during day two of the discussion on the April 22 attack. During her speech, the Wayanad MP said she would read out the names of the 25 victims of the attack. However, as she began reading them aloud, she was repeatedly interrupted by MPs shouting 'Hindu'. She countered each interjection with the word 'Bhartiya'. 'I wish to read out the names of those 25 Indians in this House, so that every member sitting here realises that they too were human beings like us, not mere pawns in some political game. They too were sons of this nation. They too are martyrs of this country. We all have a responsibility towards their families; they have the right to know the truth,' she said. Priyanka also criticised the government's response to the Pahalgam attack. 'Most of the people who are sitting in this House today have a security cover. But on that day in Pahalgam, 26 people were killed in front of their families. All those people present in Baisaran Valley had no security. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brain tumor has left my son feeling miserable; please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo No matter how many operations you conduct, you cannot hide behind the truth.' Attacking the Union home minister, she said, 'The home minister stated that Pakistan had no choice but to seek refuge. The question is—why did you grant them refuge? Terrorists come to our country, kill people, and you are providing them shelter. Why have you not addressed this in any of your speeches?' She went on to accuse the government of using diversionary tactics: 'As soon as the issue of refuge was raised, the Home Minister delved into history—from Nehru ji, Indira ji, to even my mother's tears. But he did not answer the question of why there was a ceasefire, why the war was halted.' Gandhi also targeted the government for its lack of accountability: 'This government always tries to escape questions. They have no sense of responsibility towards the citizens of the nation. The truth is that they have no place for the public in their heart. For them, everything is politics, publicity…' The Congress leader's remarks came amid a heated debate where Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also criticised the government for allegedly stepping back after Operation Sindoor and questioned why US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire, not the Indian government. The debate surrounding Operation Sindoor has drawn strong reactions from the Opposition, demanding clarity from the Centre on the reasons for halting military operations after the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26.
