Mocking a grieving woman with cartoons reveals the BJP’s mindset, ‘completely devoid of empathy and political responsibility’
NEW DELHI — In a sharp indictment of the Narendra Modi government’s handling of national security, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Wednesday slammed the Centre over Tuesday’s terror attack in South Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Over two dozen tourists were allegedly targeted in the attack. Singh termed the incident a “historic intelligence failure” and warned that its communal nature was aimed at tearing the nation apart.
Addressing a press conference at the AAP office in Lucknow, Singh said the brutal killing of civilians was a rare and deeply disturbing incident in the history of Kashmir. “The fact that tourists were deliberately targeted and killed is alarming. Such a targeted and planned attack is extremely rare,” he said.
Singh demanded a strong response from the government, saying, “Terrorists should be answered in their own language. Just as they have brutally murdered innocent, unarmed people, the response must be equally strong.”
The AAP leader also highlighted local outrage in the region, noting that residents of Kashmir also condemned the violence. “People there want peace. A man named Hussain even tried to protect the tourists, urging the attackers not to harm them. He, too, was killed,” Singh added.
Raising serious concerns about the country’s internal security mechanisms, Singh questioned how such an attack was allowed to take place in a heavily visited area. “Where were the intelligence agencies? In a place with over 2,000 tourists, how did terrorists manage to open fire and kill dozens of people? Where was the army? Were the police deployed? Did any agency issue alerts?”
Singh held the Union Government and the Lieutenant Governor accountable, stating that since Jammu and Kashmir remains a Union Territory, the LG must provide answers on the police’s role and the intelligence system’s failure.
He called for an all-party meeting on the issue and asked for transparency on the government’s proposed course of action. “We will stand with the government on any step taken to ensure justice and national security,” he said.
Agniveer Scheme Under Fire
The AAP MP also launched a scathing attack on the Centre’s Agniveer recruitment scheme. He pointed out that the Indian Army currently faces a shortfall of 1.8 lakh soldiers, exacerbated by the suspension of recruitment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For three years, recruitment didn’t happen. But instead of resuming regular recruitment, you introduced the four-year Agniveer scheme,” he said. “Youth from across the country — whether from Haryana, UP, Bihar, Rajasthan or Jharkhand — have opposed it, saying, ‘Don’t play with the lives of our soldiers.’”
Timeline of Terror Attacks
Listing past terror attacks in the region, Singh cited incidents including the 2016 Uri attack, the 2019 Pulwama bombing, and multiple 2024 incidents targeting pilgrims and migrant workers. “While the government claims peace has returned to Kashmir, the reality is far from it,” Singh said.
He detailed the 2024 attacks alone, noting fatalities in Reasi, Ramban, and Jammu, as well as injuries from grenade attacks in Srinagar. “These attacks show that the threat remains very real, despite the government’s narrative of normalcy.”
Singh also criticised BJP leaders for what he termed an “insensitive and inhumane” response to the tragedy. Referring to media reports, he said the victims were allegedly asked about their religion before being killed.
“There is not a single person who supports such terrorism. These attacks were aimed at provoking religious hatred,” he said.
“What has the BJP done? They have circulated cartoons mocking a woman mourning her husband’s death. This shows their mindset — completely devoid of empathy and political responsibility,” Singh alleged.
