Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi received an intelligence warning about a possible terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir three days before the April 22 Pahalgam attack, and subsequently cancelled his scheduled visit to the region. Kharge questioned why, if such intelligence existed, the government failed to take preventive security measures to protect civilians — especially since the attack claimed 26 lives, with terrorists reportedly opening fire on tourists vacationing in the area.
In a public statement, Kharge said:
“There is an intelligence failure, the government has accepted it... If they knew this, why didn't they do anything? I got information that three days before the attack, an intelligence report was sent to PM Modi, and therefore he cancelled his programme to visit Kashmir.”
His comments come in the wake of reports, including from a closed-door all-party meeting on April 24, where government officials admitted to security lapses. Sources present at the meeting told India Today TV that local authorities had failed to inform security agencies before opening up the Baisaran area near Pahalgam — a region traditionally kept off-limits until the Amarnath Yatra begins in June.
Further compounding the criticism, intelligence agencies had previously warned that tourists, especially those staying in Srinagar’s Zabarwan foothills, could be targeted. According to PTI, there were also inputs suggesting that terrorists might strike during the PM’s originally scheduled April 19 visit to flag off the Katra-Srinagar train. However, officials have claimed the visit was postponed due to adverse weather conditions, including high-speed winds.
Kharge’s remarks reflect growing pressure on the Modi government to explain the security oversight, especially when prior warnings were available. The incident has reignited debates around intelligence coordination, civilian safety, and preparedness in sensitive regions like Kashmir.
