New Delhi, April 25 – India’s main opposition Congress party on Thursday accused Pakistan of orchestrating the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam and called for a comprehensive probe into what it described as “intelligence and security failures” in one of the country’s most heavily guarded regions.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s top decision-making body, passed a resolution condemning the “cowardly and calculated act of terror” and expressed outrage over the targeting of Hindu tourists in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
“This is not merely an attack – it is a direct assault on the values of our Republic,” the CWC said, urging for national unity while warning against political polarisation. “The deliberate targeting of Hindus was done to inflame passions across the country.”
At least 26 civilians were killed in the assault, the worst attack in the region since 2019. The Congress also alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its affiliated social media accounts were “exploiting the tragedy to sow discord, mistrust, and division.”
Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal told reporters the party had a duty to ask tough questions of the government, citing lapses in a three-tier security setup in the sensitive region.
In a symbolic gesture, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, along with senior leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others, observed a moment of silence for the victims at the emergency meeting in New Delhi.
The party also announced plans to hold candlelight marches across states and districts on April 25 in solidarity with the victims.
The CWC appealed for stronger, transparent security arrangements for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage, set to draw hundreds of thousands of devotees to the region in the coming weeks.
Congress praised the bravery of local guides and pony handlers, including one who was killed while shielding tourists during the attack. “Their selfless acts uphold the idea of India,” the party said.
Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi not attending a scheduled all-party meeting on the attack, Congress said its leaders, including Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, would participate and present their concerns.
Pakistan has not responded to the Congress accusations. Indian officials have not publicly confirmed the perpetrators of the attack, which has drawn widespread condemnation from global leaders.
