'Who let terrorists reach Pahalgam?' Gogoi tears into Rajnath Singh’s defence of ‘Op Sindoor’
New Delhi, July 28: As the Parliament continued its debate on the government’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack under Operation Sindoor, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi launched a fierce attack on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accusing the Centre of sidestepping core questions about the April 22 massacre.
Gogoi said that while the government hailed the 22-minute cross-border strike targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, it has failed to explain how the Pahalgam attack was allowed to happen in the first place.
During the ongoing debate in the Lok Sabha, Rajnath Singh described Operation Sindoor as a decisive and swift military action that reflected India’s strength and moral clarity under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. But Gaurav Gogoi, responding on behalf of the Opposition, turned the focus towards what he described as glaring internal failures.
Gogoi questioned why, even after 100 days since the attack, no one had been brought to justice. He alleged that while Singh presented a detailed report of the strike, he remained silent on the crucial issue, how did the terrorists manage to reach Pahalgam and launch such a deadly assault on civilians?
The Congress MP said that while India’s soldiers displayed bravery and efficiency, it was the government’s duty to ensure that such attacks do not take place on Indian soil. He reminded Parliament that families of the victims are still waiting for answers. “Our soldiers did their job, but did the government do theirs?” he asked pointedly.
Gogoi clarified that the Opposition was not questioning the military, but holding the government accountable for its failure to prevent the attack. “It is our constitutional duty to ask these questions,” he said, reiterating that the massacre was a result of a lapse in internal security, not military weakness.
The Congress leader also raised serious doubts about the extent of losses in the military operation. He questioned whether Indian fighter jets, including Rafales, had been shot down during the strike. “This government must tell the truth to the public and to our jawans. If even one Rafale jet was lost, that is a serious blow,” he added.
He also took aim at the government’s sudden ceasefire announcement after the strike. “Until May 10, everyone including the Opposition was standing firmly behind the government. But suddenly, there was a ceasefire. Why? If Pakistan was ready to surrender, why did we stop? To whom did we surrender?” Gogoi asked, citing US President’s repeated claims of having brokered the ceasefire.
“The entire country, and the Opposition, were supporting PM Modi. Suddenly, on 10th May, we got to know that there had been a ceasefire. Why? We wanted to know from PM Modi that if Pakistan was ready to kneel down, then why did you stop, and to whom did you surrender?” he said.
"They are still saying that Operation Sindoor is incomplete and Pakistan can do this again, then how is this a success? They themselves are saying our intention was not war, why was it not so? They say it was not to take territory, why was it not so? When will we take back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, if not today, then when? The most horrendous terror attacks have happened under your government," Gogoi said.
Describing the ground situation during the Pahalgam attack, Gogoi said it took nearly an hour for an ambulance to reach Baisaran, where the incident took place. He noted that the army had to reach the site on foot, despite the presence of modern surveillance systems like drones, satellites, Pegasus, and multiple paramilitary forces across the region.
He also painted a painful picture of the trauma faced by civilians. Referring to an moment, he said a mother and daughter began crying when they saw an Indian soldier, mistaking him for the uniformed terrorists who had earlier opened fire. “That soldier had to assure them he was Indian, and that they were now safe. This is the level of terror the people of Pahalgam experienced. Rajnath Ji should have at least acknowledged this fear,” he said.
As the speech progressed, Gogoi held the Central government squarely responsible for the tragedy, stating that the Lieutenant Governor alone cannot take the blame. “The Union Home Minister and the Central government cannot hide behind the LG,” he said, slamming what he called the cowardice of the ruling dispensation.
He criticised the government’s response that tour operators should be blamed for taking tourists to Baisaran without permission. “Is this how a serious national security failure is being deflected? By blaming civilians?” he asked.
Gogoi ended his speech by taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The PM returned from Saudi Arabia but did not find time to visit Pahalgam. He attended a government event and addressed a political rally in Bihar. But it was our leader Rahul Gandhi who went to meet the victims,” he said.
Rajnath Singh ji gave a long speech but did not tell the people How those 5 terrorists entered Pahalgam?
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) July 28, 2025
This is one of the best speeches you will hear today from Assam MP Gaurav Gogoi 🔥
Absolutely nailed the BJP. pic.twitter.com/4ER9jDoZ4g
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Mamata accuses BJP of trying to 'rig' Bengal polls, alleges central forces acting at its behest
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused the BJP of trying to "rig" the West Bengal assembly elections, alleging that central forces and election observers were acting at the behest of the saffron party.
The BJP, however, dismissed her allegations, accusing her of "trying to create confusion sensing public anger against the TMC".
Visiting several polling booths in her Bhabanipur assembly constituency where voting is underway, Banerjee alleged that democratic norms have been severely compromised by the authorities this assembly election.
The Bhabanipur assembly segment is Banerjee's political bastion, where she is locked in a prestige battle against Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, in what is being seen as a symbolic rematch of Nandigram, where he had defeated her in the 2021 assembly polls.
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"BJP wants to rig this election," she told reporters.
Stating that elections are held in West Bengal in a peaceful manner, Banerjee asked, "Is there goonda raj here?"
West Bengal has had a tradition of poll-related violence with the Calcutta High Court having ordered CBI investigations into post-poll violence after the 2021 assembly elections.
Alleging that TMC workers and leaders were facing atrocities at the hands of police and CAPF personnel, Banerjee said her party cadres "were ready to die".
The TMC supremo, who usually steps out of her Kalighat residence in the afternoon on polling day to cast her vote at Mitra Institution School, went out before 8 am and visited several polling stations in the constituency, including those in the Chetla area of south Kolkata.
She later sat outside a polling station at Chakraberia in Bhabanipur and spoke to reporters, alleging irregularities and accusing the BJP of trying to influence the polling process through central forces and observers.
"Several observers have come from outside and are acting as per the BJP's directions. People are supposed to cast their votes -- can voting take place like this?" Banerjee said.
She also alleged that all TMC party flags had been removed beforehand and claimed that outsiders were interfering with the polling process.
"They are not allowing the councillor of ward number 70 to step out. They are picking up all our boys. Abhishek and I stayed awake the entire night," she said.
Banerjee further claimed that some people from outside the state were trying to create disturbances in the constituency and sought immediate intervention from the Election Commission.
The BJP, however, dismissed her allegations, claiming that the ruling party was trying to create confusion after sensing public anger against it.
Adhikari said the CM will lose the election.
The LoP offered prayers at two temples in the constituency's Khidirpur area.
Adhikari said people are coming out in large numbers to vote, with the Election Commission making proper arrangements for ensuring free and fair election.
"Does not matter, she will lose," Adhikari told reporters about the TMC chief venturing out on polling day early in the morning in a departure from her practice of going out only in the afternoon to cast her vote.
The party's de facto second-in-command Abhishek Banerjee, on the other hand, asserted that the TMC will win with a higher number of seats than in 2021.
The Diamond Harbour MP, after casting his vote at Mitra Institution, accused the poll observers of highhandedness in different places.
"But these things will not matter, we will win by a higher number of seats this election," he told reporters.
Voting is underway in 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections amid unprecedented security arrangements.
Polling began at 7 am with voters lining up outside booths across Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Hooghly and Purba Bardhaman -- districts that together form the political and electoral core of the state.
The outcome of this phase is expected to be crucial as it covers south Bengal, considered the TMC's traditional stronghold, where the BJP is seeking major inroads.
Polling will continue till 6 pm.
The first phase of the assembly elections on April 23 had recorded a turnout of 93.19 per cent -- the highest ever in the state.
Counting of votes will take place on May 4.
