MP Saket Gokhale slams Modi government over Pahalgam terror attack, demands accountability
New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale has launched a scathing attack on the Union Government over its handling of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left over 26 civilians dead. In a strongly-worded social media post, Gokhale questioned the absence of government accountability and criticised the mainstream media for allegedly suppressing the issue while promoting a communal narrative.
"The events of the last two days have been shocking and unacceptable," Gokhale wrote. "How long will we allow the government to get away with zero accountability while the media hides its failures and pushes a communal agenda?"
Expressing condolences to the families of the victims, Gokhale described the attack as a "ghastly terrorist incident" and said the nation's thoughts and prayers were with those affected. However, he was quick to call out what he described as a "complete failure" of the government's security apparatus.
"For years, the Modi government kept boasting that 'everything is normal' in J&K," Gokhale stated, recalling repeated declarations in Parliament by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah about normalcy in the Valley. He also criticised the focus on showcasing Kashmir to international delegations, claiming it came at the cost of genuine internal security.
"Did Indian tourists not deserve the same level of security as foreign dignitaries?" he asked.
The MP noted that in the 48 hours since the attack, there had been no honest admission of an intelligence failure by the government. He also targeted mainstream media outlets, accusing them of failing to ask tough questions and instead shielding the government from scrutiny.
"Not a single legacy media house has raised any questions on what happened. How long will the BJP and the media belittle the deaths of innocent Indians to protect the Modi government?" Gokhale asked.
He further criticised Home Minister Amit Shah for not issuing a public apology or taking responsibility for the security lapse.
While expressing confidence in the Indian Armed Forces to bring the perpetrators to justice, Gokhale warned against the politicisation of the tragedy. "The BJP has become active using this tragedy for inciting communal hate. How low can a political party go when fellow Indians have lost their lives?" he said.
He concluded with a demand for basic accountability, stating, "The least that Modi and Shah can do is apologise for the failure that led to this attack. It's the job of the media to demand that. Because, remember, they will be the first ones to shamelessly claim credit when our Armed Forces neutralize the attackers."
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Drug peddler's property worth Rs 1 crore attached in Srinagar
Srinagar (PTI): Property worth Rs 1 crore belonging to a notorious drug peddler was on Saturday attached in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, police said.
A double-storey house on eight marlas of land situated at Wantpora Eidgah, belonging to Basit Bilal Dar, a notorious drug peddler, valued at approximately Rs 1 crore, a police spokesperson said.
He said Dar is involved in two cases registered under various sections of the NDPS Act.
During investigation, it was established that the accused had acquired the said property through illicit proceeds generated from drug trafficking activities, the spokesperson said.
Consequently, the property was attached under the provisions of the NDPS Act. The attachment proceedings were conducted in the presence of the two independent witnesses, strictly in accordance with the prescribed legal procedures, he said.
As per the attachment order, the owner has been restrained from selling, leasing, transferring, altering, or creating any third-party interest in the property till further orders, the spokesperson added.
