• TMC slams Centre for misleading on Pahalgam attack during all-party meet
    The Statesman | 28 April 2025
  • The Trinamul Congress (TMC) has launched a scathing attack on the Modi government, accusing it of ‘deliberately’ leaving the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam unguarded to maintain what they call a “fake all-is-well Kashmir narrative,” following the deadly terror attack on 22 April.

    During the all-party meeting on 24 April, the government reportedly said local authorities did not inform security agencies before opening the Baisaran area for tourists leading to lack of security forces. However, reports emerged contradicting those statements. Security establishment sources reportedly admitted that the Baisaran meadow has been open to tourists year-round since 2020 to maintain the narrative of normalcy in Kashmir.

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    Taking to X, TMC shared a snippet of the news article and wrote: “No ‘lapse,’ no ‘oversight.’ The Modi govt DELIBERATELY left Baisaran meadow unguarded in a terror-prone zone to maintain its fake ‘all-is-well’ Kashmir narrative. This is not misjudgement—it’s wilful endangerment of lives for propaganda.”

    Trinamul Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose also questioned why the government misled opposition leaders. “The truth is, Baisaran meadow has always been open. No police permission has been needed since 2020 to keep this meadow open. This meadow is only closed in the snowbound months,” Ghose pointed out.

    She also argued that since the Union home ministry oversees law and order in the region through the Lieutenant Governor’s office, home minister Shah bears direct responsibility for security lapses. “Mr Amit Shah cannot escape accountability. He cannot escape responsibility as home minister for the heinous terror attack,” Ghose added, calling on the minister to “take responsibility” rather than “pass the buck,” she said.
  • Link to this news (The Statesman)