Why no security cover at Pahalgam: Opposition asks at all-party meeting
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New Delhi: At the all-party meeting held on Thursday evening, the Opposition questioned the government for having not deployed security personnel at Pahalgam where 26 tourists were killed on Tuesday.
The meeting, convened by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah, however, announced a slew of countermeasures against Pakistan citing cross-border terrorism.
The government decided to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan alongside closing the Attari land-transit point, among other decisions.
However, the Opposition at the meeting particularly zeroed in on the absence of security personnel at the meadow, Baisaran, near Pahalgam at the time of attack.
Formally raised by Rahul Gandhi, several other leaders from Opposition including Mallikarjun Kharge, and Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh also echoed it.
The government made it clear in explanation that Baisaran area gets security cover usually ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra beginning in June.
Security forces are then deployed officially opening the route, ensuring safety of the pilgrims as they rest at Baisaran on course to the Amarnath cave shrine.
Centre said that the local tour operators began taking tourists to the area as early as April 20, well before security cover was given to the pilgrimage.
Government representatives told the meeting that the local administration had not been informed of the early tourist visits, thus no security was arranged.
When asked why the Centre suspended the Indus Waters Treaty if India lacks storage capacity, the government told the Opposition that the move was not about immediate outcomes but a symbolic and strategic gesture.
‘The treaty was suspended to show the government's intention to take strict action. This has been done to give a strong message. This decision also tells what the government's stand is going to be in the future,’ the government reportedly said.
At the meeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presented an overview of the current situation, while Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka in a 20-minute presentation gave the details of Pahalgam attack, intelligence inputs and measures taken afterwards.
