Pahalgam terror attack: Congress, BJP spar over Opposition's Modi 'missing' post

New Delhi: Congress and BJP on Tuesday locked horns over the former’s post on Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of “missing” in discharging responsibilities in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack with the saffron party alleging that the main Opposition party is siding with Pakistan.

However, later on Tuesday Congress took down the post from ‘X'.

Even as the Congress and other Opposition parties have pledged support to the government in the fight against terrorism, they have been raising questions over security lapses and highlighting Modi’s absence at the all-party meeting while attending a rally in poll-bound Bihar on the same day.

It has also raised the detention of BSF constable Purnam Sahu by Pakistan Rangers six days ago with Congress Media and Publicity Department Chairman Pawan Khera asking what steps the government has taken to secure his safe return at a time his family is “anxiously awaiting” answers.

On Wednesday, Congress posted on X, “Missing from (discharging) responsibility” with an image resembling Modi but without his face. It came hours after the BJP picked up contentious statements by Congress leaders questioning survivors’ claims on religious profiling by terrorists and remarks on Pakistan even as the Opposition party distanced itself from those remarks.

Congress’ post enraged BJP leaders with senior MP Anurag Thakur alleging that they were supporting Pakistan and why do they "not get angry" when they see the bloodshed of Indians, even as he referred to Saifuddin Soz’s statement of believing Pakistan till investigations conclusively prove it was involved.

“Congress even raised questions when India carried out a surgical strike... Only a short time has passed by and Congress has already started raising questions on India and siding with Pakistan. The face of the pro-Pakistan Congress has been exposed again,” he alleged.

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said it was “extremely sad and worrisome” that the Congress is “constantly revealing its two faces and transforming into Lashkar-e-Pakistan Congress. Congress has tweeted a headless image of Modi-ji when he has given a strong message to Pakistan. They say they are supporting the government and then release images like this.”

Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said Modi was absent at the all-party meeting though he found time to attend an election rally in Bihar on the same day after abruptly returning from Saudi Arabia following the terror strike.

Putting pressure on the government as the IMF Executive Board is set to consider Pakistan's request for a new $1.3 billion loan under its Resilience and Sustainability Facility on May 9, Ramesh said his party expects India to "strongly oppose" this assistance.

Congress, which has been nuanced in its public responses on Pahalgam attack, is changing gears, but it's trying to make sure that it does not fall into the wrong line over national security. However, statements of its leaders like Siddaramaiah and Shashi Tharoor have put them in trouble, forcing the party to recall the Congress Working Committee resolution on Pahalgam.

Sources said the party will try to corner the Prime Minister over his absence at the all-party meeting with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge himself raising the issue on Monday, besides questioning the security and intelligence lapses. It has also found fault with the explanations given at the all-party meeting on opening of Baisaran valley as misleading.

So far, the Congress has not demanded resignations of the Prime Minister or Home Minister Amit Shah even as it categorically put the blame on Pakistan for the terror strike. Congress leaders are highlighting how “responsible” the party’s response was, comparing it with how Modi, as Gujarat Chief Minister, responded to the Mumbai terror attack in 2008.