PM Modi Had Intel About Possible Terrorist Attack, Cancelled His Kashmir Visit: Kharge On Pahalgam Incident

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had received an intel report about a possible terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir and questioned the government why it did not react despite having information.

He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi postponed his visit to Jammu and Kashmir three days before the incident. "I read in newspapers that three days before the attack, an intelligence report was sent to PM Modi. Therefore, he cancelled his Kashmir visit. When intelligence agencies told you it would not be appropriate to go, why did not you not share this intelligence with police and security forces?" ANI quoted Kharge as saying at a rally in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

On April 22, a terrorist attack in Pahalgam killed 26 civilians. The attackers are accused of asking the the victims' about their religion before killing them.

BJP's Response To Kharge's Claims

However, BJP leader CR Kesavan has slammed Kharge's comments calling it treacherous statements "similar to a modern-day Mir Jaffar." "His toxic, baseless, unfounded rant against the Prime Minister is most deplorable and condemnable, and Mr. Kharge's remarks are unpardonable, indefensible, and cannot be forgiven. Everybody demands an unconditional apology from him, and he should also come clean on what kind of inputs he received to make such outrageous remarks..." he told ANI.

However, this is the latest in a of controversial remarks by Congress leaders on the April 22 terrorist attack. Earlier, a social media post with a caption "Gayab" (missing) had created a major controversy.

Thereafter, the grand old party directed the party workers to "exercise utmost discipline" and to "confine themselves to the Congress Working Committee's stated position in the resolution."

Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry has decided to conduct a nationwide mock drill exercise on May 7 in 259 locations. It is a type of preparation to check how civilians and authorities when a country is under attack. By carrying out the drills, the government is trying to test the alertness of civilians.