Congress targets govt: Security, intel failure behind attack

NEW DELHI: Blaming " security lapses and intelligence failure " for the Pahalgam attack , Congress Thursday said the deliberate targeting of Hindus in the heinous act "masterminded by Pakistan" is designed to inflame passions across India, even as it accused the governing BJP of exploiting the tragedy by using social media to sow discord and create polarisation. Congress warned Modi govt that counter measures announced against Pakistan should not be "symbolic".

The Congress Working Committee meeting, attended by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi underlined that the terror-hit area is protected by a three-tier security arrangement and falls under the purview of Union home ministry. It demanded a comprehensive analysis of the "failures".

"These questions must be raised in the larger public interest. This is the only way justice can truly be seen to be served for the families whose lives have been so brutally devastated," stated the CWC resolution.

According to sources, Rahul argued in the meeting that it was a clear case of security and intelligence failure, and the party should not shy away from pointing it out. He reportedly said the party would support the govt in its actions against terrorism but the responsibility for the attack lay at the doorsteps of the govt, which controls the security in J&K.