Siddaramaiah, TMC Slam Centre Over Pahalgam Terror Attack

A day after a devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that killed 26 people—mostly tourists—political outrage erupted across the country with multiple opposition parties directly blaming the Centre and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for what they described as a “colossal security lapse”.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned the attack as a “planned act of terror” and pointed to a failure of intelligence on the part of the central government. “I feel this was a premeditated strike. It is a major terror attack, which the Karnataka government strongly condemns,” Siddaramaiah told reporters in Bengaluru. He also revealed that officials from his state, including Labour Minister Santosh Lad, were dispatched to Kashmir to assist stranded tourists and arrange for a special plane to bring them home. “We will not compromise on safety. Terrorists must be neutralised,” he said.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) held Union Home Minister Amit Shah directly accountable. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh called it an “unforgivable security and intelligence failure” and demanded Shah’s resignation. TMC MP Mahua Moitra posted on X, “Enough of the ‘All is well’ narrative for J&K. Take concrete action so innocent citizens don’t lose lives.” West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu likened the attack to a repeat of the 2019 Pulwama tragedy, questioning how militants were allowed to reach Pahalgam.

In Madhya Pradesh, Congress leaders echoed similar concerns. State party chief Jitu Patwari said the Centre had failed to act decisively post-Pulwama. “Had an impartial probe been conducted into the Pulwama attack, this may not have happened,” he stated. Senior leader Arif Masood called it a national tragedy and urged the Modi government to take strict action.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also took aim at the BJP, accusing it of politicising the tragedy. In a scathing post on X, he criticised what he termed the BJP’s “childish publicity” and “zero empathy.” He questioned why, despite promoting tourism in Kashmir, the government did not ensure sufficient security at such a high-profile tourist site.

Nationwide protests and tributes poured in. In Uttar Pradesh, BJP and Congress units alike organised candle marches and tributes. In towns like Hapur, Unnao, and Varanasi, bar associations and civil society groups suspended work and held protests demanding swift retaliation. BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj described the killings as “targeted murders” and said, “This act crosses all limits of civilisation and humanity.”

The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association in Aligarh issued a statement condemning the “crime against humanity” and urged students from the Valley to stay safe and avoid engaging in political discussions. As security forces continue their operations, political temperatures are rising across party lines, demanding accountability and urgent countermeasures.