Akhilesh Yadav Slams Centre over Pahalgam Attack, Intelligence Lapses, and PoK Policy

NEW DELHI:
In a fiery address during the ongoing Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor, Samajwadi Party (SP) President and MP Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing critique of the central government, raising serious concerns about security failures, the Centre’s Kashmir policy, and the handling of terror-related intelligence.

Referring to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Yadav questioned the government’s accountability over what he termed a clear lapse in intelligence. “Who is responsible for these repeated failures?” he asked, referencing not just Pahalgam but also the 2019 Pulwama attack. “The nation has a right to know who is behind these security breaches.”

Yadav emphasised that his criticism transcended political rivalry. “This is not a matter of ruling versus Opposition. It’s about the safety of our citizens. Decades after Independence, we are still grappling with the same issues. Why can’t we devise a lasting strategy to secure our borders?” he asked.

Taking aim at the BJP-led Centre, the SP chief accused the government of manipulating public sentiment. “They speak with high energy to impress people, but the public is not naïve. Emotional appeals cannot replace real accountability,” he said.

He pointed out the contradiction between the government’s promise post-Article 370 abrogation and the ground reality in Jammu & Kashmir. “The government claimed that scrapping Article 370 would bring peace and boost tourism. People trusted those assurances. Yet, the Pahalgam attack exposed glaring vulnerabilities. Where was the security?”

Yadav pressed for a clear explanation from the Centre on what concrete steps are being taken to prevent such incidents. “After Pulwama, there were promises. But who took responsibility then? No one knows. Now Pahalgam has happened. How many more times will intelligence fail before someone is held accountable?”

In a surprising turn, Yadav also questioned the government’s stance on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the recent ceasefire agreement with Pakistan. “Many believed that we had a real chance to reclaim PoK. Some sections of the media even claimed we had captured parts of Lahore and Karachi. But instead of decisive action, a ceasefire was announced.”

He went further, suggesting external influence in the ceasefire move. “Why was the ceasefire not announced directly by our own government? Why did US President Donald Trump speak about it? Under what compulsion did India agree to a ceasefire?”

Concluding his address, Yadav called on the government to come clean—not just on the intelligence lapses and terror threats—but also on the total geographical area of India. His remarks added to the Opposition’s growing demand for transparency and accountability in national security matters.