Trinamool Congress launches all-out attack on Centre over Pahalgam terror attack

People hold black balloons and posters in tribute to the terror attack victims of Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, in Kolkata, West Bengal, on April 23, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Trinamool Congress lambasted the Union government and held Home Minister Amit Shah “directly responsible” for the alleged security failure in the wake of the terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, accusing him of being too involved in “election management” than to care about real issues.

Pahalgam terror attack LIVE Updates

The party also questioned the government’s earlier claims of “normalcy” in Jammu and Kashmir. Its strident stand comes in contrast to the Congress which has taken a measured stance with party President Mallikarjun Kharge assuring that they will cooperate with the government. The TMC government in West Bengal has been on the receiving end for the last several days over the riots in Murshidabad.

Also read | The Resistance Front: The banned organisation behind Pahalgam terror attack

Calling the Pahalgam incident both “unfortunate and horrifying”, party’s national general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee said the incident must serve as a clarion call for the Union government.

“This is the same government that claimed demonetisation would end black money and terror funding and that the abrogation of Article 370 would bring lasting peace to the region. Yet, today’s tragic incident stands as a stark reminder of the failure of these promises, policies and propaganda,” he posted on X. 

‘Take concrete action’

Party’s MPs in a series of posts on social media followed this line of attack. TMC MP Mahua Moitra said the government must stop this “all is well” narrative for Jammu and Kashmir. “Stop peddling fake narratives and take concrete action so that innocent citizens don’t lose lives,” she posted on X.

Singling out the Home Minister for the grave intelligence failure, TMC deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Sagarika Ghose said, “Will Mr. Shah admit that he has been far too involved in election management rather than in dealing with the real issues that the Home Ministry needs to be concerned about.”

She further underlined that Mr. Shah has repeatedly claimed that cross-border terrorism has been eliminated. On a post on X, Ms. Ghose also slammed the “red carpet” welcome extended for Mr. Shah in the terror-stricken State. Sharing a video of Mr. Shah walking on a red carpet in the State, she said it was another example of how totally insensitive and shamelessly disconnected the Modi-Shah regime was. “This is the time for accountability not VVIP optics,” she said.

Rajya Sabha member Saket Gokhale asked, “Why hasn’t Amit Shah uttered even a word of apology to the families of those who died and admitted that he has failed in his job?”