NCP (SP)'s Supriya Sule (left) Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda (right) speak during the Lok Sabha.
Credit: Sansad TV via PTI Photo
New Delhi: From insisting that ‘Operation Tandoor’ was needed instead of ‘Operation Sindoor’ and demanding a ban on India-Pakistan cricket matches, the Opposition on Monday sought to put the Modi government on the mat over the Pahalgam attack in Lok Sabha claiming security lapses and questioning how many countries supported India after the military action.
The I.N.D.I.A. MPs raised questions over the Modi government’s inability to catch terrorists involved in the terror attack, US President Donald Trump's repeated claims of brokering peace between India and Pakistan by threatening both the countries on trade deal and the outcome of deliberations by multi-party delegations sent abroad by the government.
Participating in the debate, Congress MP Deepender Hooda asked, “If Pakistan was on its knees then what was the need for a ceasefire…Country's sentiments were insulted when the ceasefire was announced through a tweet from America.”
Trinamool Congress' Kalyan Banerjee asked why Intelligence Bureau chief Tapan Deka was given a one-year extension, if intelligence failure was the cause of Pahalgam attack. His comments came against the backdrop of Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha acknowledged intelligence failure and took responsibility.
Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Arvind Sawant said India should refrain from playing cricket with Pakistan, comments which came as India is scheduled to compete against the neighbour in Asia Cup in September.
He also said, “If India was in the vantage position, then what stopped the country from reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This was the opportune time to teach Pakistan a lesson," he said.
Samajwadi Party’s Ramashankar Rajbhar asked how terrorists are “still roaming free” when the government claims that it has immense surveillance capabilities.
“The country was so angry that by the third day, people wanted not Operation Sindoor, but Operation Tandoor, that is to throw the terrorists into that ‘tandoor’ (frying pan). But instead, it happened 17 days later. Were those who carried out the Pahalgam attack among the 100 terrorists (killed during Operation Sindoor in Pakistan)? That’s the real question,” he said.
He asked the government to clarify whether the ceasefire was agreed upon due to pressure from the US. “Trump said at least 26 times that he facilitated an India-Pakistan ceasefire…If Trump was telling the truth, then where do we stand? The real Vishwaguru is sitting in the White House,” he added.
NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule said, “Operation Sindoor is not complete and it is not a success till you find those terrorists and arrest them. Till then, we cannot celebrate.” She also referred to the trolling of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Hemant Narwal’s widow.
Samajwadi Party’s Chhotelal said the Pahalgam attack was not just a terror attack but an assault on the country's reputation. “What’s more disheartening is that the Prime Minister chose to visit Bihar instead of addressing the country,” he said.