‘Hollow claims of normalcy’: Opposition slams Union govt over Pahalgam attack, seeks accountability

The militant attack in Baisaran above Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed at least 26 tourists and injured 10 others, has ignited a wave of outrage across the country, with Opposition leaders fiercely criticising the BJP-led Union government for what they described as “hollow claims” of peace and normalcy in the region post the abrogation of Article 370.

Leading the chorus of condemnation, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi said the attack was “extremely condemnable and heartbreaking.”

“The whole country is united against terrorism. Instead of making hollow claims of the situation being normal in Jammu and Kashmir, the government should now take accountability and take concrete steps so that such barbaric incidents do not happen in the future and innocent Indians do not lose their lives like this,” Gandhi said in a statement on X.

He added: “The news of the death of tourists and injuries to many in the cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely condemnable and heartbreaking. I express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured.”

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also held the Union government responsible and called for urgent corrective measures. “We demand the Modi government to fix responsibility and take concrete steps to prevent such attacks in the future,” Owaisi told reporters, describing the incident as a grave security and intelligence lapse. “This is also an intelligence failure, and the Narendra Modi government should re-evaluate its deterrence policy,” he said.

Highlighting the communal angle reportedly involved in the attack, Owaisi added, “Terrorists killed innocent people after asking their religion in Pahalgam. We strongly condemn this incident. We hope that the government will teach a lesson to these terrorists. We are standing in solidarity with the affected families and praying for the swift recovery of the injured.”

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) termed the incident a grim reminder of the Union government’s failure to ensure security in the Valley. “This terror attack lays bare the hollow rhetoric of the Modi-Shah duo that everything is well in Kashmir and that peace and normalcy have been restored. The Government of India should waste no time in ensuring a lasting political solution to the issues of the people in J&K.” read a statement shared on CPI(M)’s official X handle.

In a strongly-worded statement, the CPI(ML) Liberation said the Modi government’s “chest-thumping” over security in Kashmir has been proven false. “We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and stand in solidarity with their families,” the party said.

 “The Modi government’s claim of normalisation of the situation in J & K and chest-thumping on national security stands exposed, as such attacks continue unabated in the region. There has been a disturbing rise in attacks on civilians—residents, migrant workers, and now tourists,” it noted.

CPI(ML) further urged the public to reject “jingoistic and communal narratives” that might be used to politicise the tragedy. “At this critical moment, it is essential for people across the country to stand united and push back the divisive forces seeking to exploit such tragedies for political gain.”

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav also underscored the importance of restoring public confidence in the security situation. “The central government needs to ensure an environment of security in Jammu and Kashmir at the highest level of priority, only then can the lives of local residents and tourists remain safe. Security only creates trust and a sense of unity and integrity,” Yadav said.

Police said the attack was carried out by two to three militants who opened indiscriminate fire on a group of tourists, many of whom were from outside Jammu and Kashmir. The attack is being described as the deadliest targeting of civilians in the Valley in recent years and has cast a shadow over government claims of restored peace in the region.

The Pahalgam attack has once again brought the spotlight back on the ground realities in Kashmir, challenging the government’s claims of restored normalcy since the 2019 revocation of Article 370.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a little-known armed group that emerged in the region in 2019, claimed responsibility for the attack.