NEW DELHI — Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, has launched a strong critique of the Narendra Modi-led central government, questioning its decision to accept a ceasefire with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Addressing a digital press conference on Tuesday, Atishi alleged that the government had succumbed to pressure from the United States, despite the Indian Armed Forces initiating what she described as a decisive military response.
The terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 shocked the nation, as unarmed civilians—many of them tourists—were targeted. “The whole country saw the tears of our sisters and daughters,” Atishi said, invoking the emotional gravity of the incident.
She pointed out that the Indian Army launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror camps across the border—an operation that was widely supported by political parties across the spectrum. However, she raised concerns over the sudden ceasefire announcement just three days later, on May 10—not by Indian authorities, but via social media posts by US President Donald Trump.
“Why did India remain silent while the US took the lead in declaring a ceasefire? If, as Prime Minister Modi later claimed, Pakistan had surrendered, why wasn’t the announcement made from New Delhi? And where is Pakistan’s formal acknowledgment of this so-called surrender?” Atishi questioned.
She also demanded clarity on whether those responsible for the Pahalgam attack had been brought to justice, noting that there has been no public evidence or confirmation of such an outcome.
Criticising Prime Minister Modi’s address to the nation following the ceasefire, she called it a “one-sided dialogue” that left key questions unanswered. “The Prime Minister claimed that Pakistan folded its hands and he showed mercy. But where is the proof of that surrender? Where is justice for the victims?” she asked.
Atishi further cited remarks reportedly made by President Trump, who claimed he pressured India into accepting the ceasefire by threatening to suspend trade ties. “Is US trade more valuable than the sindoor of India’s daughters?” she asked, invoking a culturally charged symbol of honor and sacrifice.
Calling for transparency, she concluded: “Until the terrorists behind the Pahalgam attack are held accountable, the country deserves honest and direct answers from Prime Minister Modi.”
As of now, the Modi government has not issued a formal response to Atishi’s allegations or addressed the reported role of the United States in the ceasefire decision.
