New Delhi, July 29: The Lok Sabha witnessed heated scenes on Tuesday as Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a blistering attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the Monsoon Session, holding him directly accountable for the ongoing Manipur crisis and the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir.
Speaking during the debate on Operation Sindoor, Priyanka questioned the Centre’s internal security failures, alleging that “the entire state of Manipur burned under Amit Shah’s watch.” She demanded transparency and accountability from the Union Government and raised sharp questions about how a heavily militarised zone like the Baisaran Valley in Jammu & Kashmir could be breached by terrorists.
“Where were the soldiers when the valley was full of tourists? Why did no intelligence agency pick up the threat? Has anyone resigned—be it the IB chief or the Home Minister?” she asked, strongly criticising Shah for not taking moral responsibility.
Priyanka also took issue with Shah’s parliamentary address, accusing him of evading present-day concerns by invoking the legacy of past Congress leaders. “Instead of responding to current crises, the Home Minister diverted attention to Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi,” she said, calling the tactic an irresponsible deflection.
Backing her stance, Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi pointed out that even Jammu & Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had acknowledged a security lapse in the Pahalgam terror attack. “But the Home Minister did not. The blame lies with this government, not with past leaders,” Gogoi stated.
In his defense, Amit Shah said that three terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack were neutralized in Operation Mahadev, crediting the Indian Army, CRPF, and J&K Police for their swift and coordinated response. He asserted that the government had acted decisively and with strength in the face of terrorism.
However, Priyanka Gandhi remained unconvinced, insisting that the government must address the root causes of these incidents rather than celebrating reactive success. “While we discussed Operation Sindoor, we forgot to ask: how did Pahalgam happen? And more importantly, why is Manipur still burning?” she asked.
The Manipur crisis, which has gripped the state for over a year, continues to draw attention in Parliament with no concrete resolution on the horizon.
