26 people were killed in Pahalgam as Modi govt did not provide security: Kharge
Hosapete (Karnataka), May 20 (PTI): Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday alleged that 26 tourists were killed in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government did not provide security there.
He reiterated his claim that Modi had cancelled his Kashmir visit after receiving an intelligence report ahead of the Pahalgam terror attack last month.
Further, he targeted the BJP government over the MP delegations that will fan out to various countries post Operation Sindoor, alleging the party was not consulted on the matter.
The Centre picking Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to lead one of the delegations has resulted in a major row as he was not among the four leaders named by the opposition party to be part of the MPs' group.
"Twenty-six people were murdered in Pahalgam because the Modi government did not provide security there. The tourists who had gone there were not given security by the police, border force, or military," Kharge alleged.
Addressing a large gathering here, he said, "26 people were killed, but still Modi did not speak a word about it (lack of security) and spoke only what he wanted to.”
Stating that he has still not received answers to the questions he had raised recently, the AICC chief said the PM was supposed to go to Kashmir on April 17, but the intelligence department asked him not to proceed and cancel the visit, citing possible trouble there.
"When you knew it—when you cancelled your programme of travelling to Kashmir on April 17—why didn’t you tell tourists about it through the police? Why didn't you ask them not to go, as there might be some trouble? If you had told them, 26 lives would have been saved," he added.
He was speaking at an event to mark the Karnataka Congress government's two years in office. At the event, over 1.11 lakh title deeds were distributed to eligible beneficiaries whose "undocumented habitations" have been declared revenue villages.
Speaking on tensions with Pakistan, Kharge said Pakistan always wants to trouble India as they are weak, and they have tried to attack the country with China's support.
"Our country will never tolerate such things. We are united on this. So we extended support to the government in the fight against those who oppose our country. The country is important; then comes religion, caste, and other things," he said.
However, what has happened now is that Modi has become important, and the country comes next. "Special information is given to save him (PM), but not to protect common people and the poor…"
Noting that Modi recently, through the government, said that a delegation of MPs should be sent to foreign countries, Kharge said, "He did not ask us. Unilaterally, he said it, but for the sake of the country, we did not say anything, and we are sending our representatives as part of a delegation to foreign countries to speak for our country.”
Saving the country is the Congress’s aim, and it doesn’t look at party lines or credit or discredit in this regard. "We have to save the country, its people."
"We (Congress) got freedom for the country that was under slavery for years. Saving it is our duty. We prepared the Constitution for this country under the leadership of Ambedkar and Nehru—saving it is our responsibility and duty, and we will do it. BJP only lies," he added.
When all parties meet to discuss the country, Modi will be in Bihar for poll campaigning, Kharge said. All-party meetings were called twice, but the PM did not attend them.
"If you had patriotism, why didn't you attend that meeting after calling us. What is the reason. If we don't go to such meetings, we are traitors, but he, the one who doesn't attend, is a patriot. Just by making speeches, a country's welfare is not possible; everyone has to be taken together," he said.
Hitting out at the BJP for its Madhya Pradesh minister's remarks on Col Sofia Qureshi, Kharge said, "What kind of punishment should be given to such people? Comments are being made against a woman who is serving in the country's armed forces."
Congress has sought the minister’s resignation, but Modi is still keeping him.
"Remove the traitors in the BJP first and then speak…she (Sofia Qureshi) was targeted as her name had Qureshi. The BJP is filled with such bad people. Modi, first remove them," he said.
Congress fights for the country, and the BJP alone has not taken any contract for it, Kharge said.
Former PMs, the late Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi have sacrificed their lives for the country, and Mahatma Gandhi too sacrificed his life.
"You try to blame such a party and book cases against its leaders through agencies like the ED," he said.
Pointing to the ED case involving Congress's newspaper, National Herald, Kharge further said the notices are issued against his party leaders by the ED, Income Tax, and CBI with the aim of weakening them.
"But it is impossible. The Congress party will never bow down to anyone. We have given everything for the country, but those who are in power have not fought for the country. They are running a maladministration in the country," he charged.
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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
