Party spokesman Pawan Khera demands advancement of Parliament’s winter session, criticises the government for delay in acknowledging the explosion as a terror attack
NEW DELHI – Extending full support to the government in dealing with the Red Fort “terror attack”, the Congress on Thursday demanded an all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the grave security situation. The party also demanded resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The main opposition party also urged the Union government to advance the winter session of Parliament to deliberate on the widening concerns over internal security.
It questioned the government over the “serious intelligence failures” that allowed a large quantity of explosives to reach within 20 kilometres of the national capital. It also conveyed deep condolences to the families of the 13 victims killed in the blast and expressed solidarity with those injured. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. The nation stands united against terrorism in all its forms,” the party said in a statement.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Congress spokesperson and Chairman of the Media and Publicity Department Pawan Khera recalled the Modi government’s earlier assertion that any terror strike would be treated as an “act of war.” He asked whether the same “new normal” would apply in this case.
Khera questioned whether Home Minister Amit Shah should continue in office in view of what he called “repeated intelligence failures.” He noted that during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the then home minister had resigned on moral grounds.
The Congress leader criticised the government for taking nearly 48 hours to acknowledge the Red Fort explosion as a terror attack. “For three days, confusion and speculation were allowed to fester while official acknowledgment was delayed. The people deserve to know why it took so long to call this what it was — a terror strike — and why preventive measures failed yet again in the heart of the capital,” he said.
Citing reports that 2,900 kilograms of explosives were recovered before the attack, Khera said the incident “exposes the alarming state of our intelligence apparatus.” He pointed out that within just seven months of the Pahalgam attack—also attributed to intelligence lapses—the nation has witnessed another major strike.
“What lessons were learned from Pahalgam? Why did the government fail to prevent this one?” he asked. “Will Home Minister Amit Shah take responsibility, given that several major terror attacks have taken place under his watch?”
Listing a series of attacks over the last decade, Khera recalled the 2015 Gurdaspur, 2016 Pathankot, Pampore, Uri, and Nagrota, 2017 Amarnath Yatra, 2019 Pulwama, 2023 Rajouri, 2024 Reasi, and 2025 Pahalgam incidents—culminating in the latest Red Fort blast. “Despite these repeated failures, the home minister continues to hold office. What accountability exists for these lapses?” he asked.
Khera also raised concerns over how such a massive quantity of explosives entered Delhi undetected. “Who will be held accountable for this grave lapse in national security?” he questioned.
Referring to the prime minister’s earlier remarks on the “new normal,” Khera said the nation deserves to know whether this doctrine will now guide the government’s counter-terror response. “This attack, like others, draws support, sustenance, and inspiration from external forces,” he said.
Responding to a question from Clarion India on the government’s muted response to the Red Fort terror attack, Congress spokesperson said the party shared the media’s concern over the delay in the official acknowledgment of the incident. “We too want to ask questions. I completely share the curiosity and concern you have as responsible members of the media — why this delay?” Khera remarked. While acknowledging the description of a “muted response” as the journalist’s perspective, he added, “I completely respect that view. Perhaps there was international pressure, or perhaps they needed permission from abroad even to term it as a terror attack. If that is the case, it would be extremely unfortunate.”
It is to be noted that on Wednesday the Union Cabinet passed a humdrum resolution that refrained from pointing fingers at any organisation or country – and is a far cry from the response the prime minister threatened soon after ‘pausing’ Operation Sindoor on May 12:
Calling for political unity on the issue, Khera urged the government to engage with all parties to formulate a cohesive national security strategy, strengthen coordination with state governments, and ensure the safety of citizens and tourists, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.
