Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge questioned if the government had prior intelligence on the Pahalgam attack, citing the Prime Minister’s cancelled visit. “If so, why were tourists still allowed?” he asked
Published Jul 29, 2025 | 6:20 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 29, 2025 | 6:37 PM
Face-Off in Lok Sabha as Priyanka Gandhi reads out names of Pahalgam terror attack victims
Synopsis: During a heated Operation Sindoor debate in Parliament, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra read out names of the 25 Indians killed in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Treasury bench members shouted “Hindu” to stress religious targeting, prompting Gandhi’s firm response — “Bharatiya” — after each name. The massacre at Baisaran Valley also claimed the life of one Nepali tourist
Tempers flared in Parliament during a special debate on Operation Sindoor as Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra read out the names of the 25 Indian civilians killed in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
The massacre at the scenic Baisaran Valley had claimed 26 lives — 25 Indians and one Nepali tourist. As Priyanka Gandhi began reading the names, members from the treasury benches interjected with shouts of “Hindu,” highlighting the religious targeting in the attack.
Ms Gandhi responded firmly with “Bharatiya” after each name, asserting that the victims were Indians first.
“I want to read out the names of 25 Indians so that every MP here realises they were human beings like us — not just political pawns. They were sons of this soil. We all owe their families an answer,” she said, slamming the government for what she called a failure of accountability.
She alleged that despite multiple warnings, no security personnel were present when tourists were gunned down. “Not one security guard was seen by the widow of Shubham Dwivedi, who watched her husband shot in cold blood,” she said, quoting the survivor’s words in the House.
Gandhi also criticised the Centre for not owning up to its lapses. “The Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor admitted to a failure in security. But did the Home Minister take responsibility? Did anyone resign over the intelligence failure?” she asked.
In a pointed retort to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s earlier remarks about Sonia Gandhi, she added, “My mother wept when her husband was martyred by terrorists.”
Earlier, Amit Shah had attacked the Congress for allegedly sympathising with terrorists, recalling how Sonia Gandhi had reportedly cried after the 2008 Batla House encounter. “If you had to cry, it should have been for Shaheed Mohan Sharma, not for terrorists,” he said.
Meanwhile,Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded to know whether the government had intelligence about the Pahalgam attack.
“The Prime Minister cancelled his visit three days before the incident. If there was intel, why were pilgrims and tourists still allowed in?” he asked.
Joining the debate, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi launched a blistering critique of the Union government’s handling of national security, foreign policy, and what she termed “selective nationalism.”
“For every issue, the BJP blames Nehru. But where is the accountability for today’s failures?” she asked. Thanking the government for sending an all-party delegation abroad to explain Operation Sindoor, she added, “It would have been better if such a situation had never arisen.”
She questioned the need for such diplomatic firefighting. “If you had protected India’s dignity globally, no explanations would have been necessary,” she said. She also accused the government of using Tamil identity opportunistically, recalling how the BJP celebrated Tamil culture during elections but ignored archaeological findings like Keezhadi that highlight Tamil civilisation.
“The Prime Minister visited Gangaikonda Cholapuram. I remind him — Rajendra Chola was a Tamil. Tamils have always risen to the occasion,” she said.
On security, Kanimozhi asked, “You call yourselves Vishwaguru, but every attack exposes the same gaps. What measures have you taken to protect citizens?”
Referring to the all-party delegation, she noted, “When it suits your agenda, you include every religion and ideology. But your domestic politics thrives on division.”
She also raised concerns about India’s dwindling global allies in the aftermath of the Pakistan-led attack, asking why Pakistan received support from two countries while India struggled to gather international backing.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
