Pahalgam Attack: K’taka CM slams Centre’s intelligence failure

Bengaluru

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned the Pahalgam terror attack on Wednesday, labeling it a "planned one" and attributing it to an "intelligence failure" by the Central government. He emphasized that such attacks, regardless of the perpetrators' identity, are condemnable and result in the loss of innocent lives.

In response to the incident, CM Siddaramaiah dispatched a team of officials, including Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad, to Jammu and Kashmir. He instructed them to arrange for a special flight to safely return the stranded tourists from Karnataka. Additionally, he requested that the bodies of the two deceased tourists be brought back on the same flight; however, the Government of India has arranged separate transportation for the bodies.

The Chief Minister reiterated his firm stance against compromising on security and safety, stressing the need to neutralize terrorists promptly. He also highlighted the tragic loss of 26 lives, including two from Karnataka, in the attack.

Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara echoed CM Siddaramaiah's concerns, questioning the intelligence lapses that allowed the terrorists to infiltrate and carry out the attack. He urged the Central government to take immediate and decisive action to prevent such incidents in the future.

The Karnataka government's swift response underscores its commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens, even in the face of such tragic events.