New Delhi: While extending full support to the government to deal with the Red Fort terror attack, the Congress today demanded an all-party meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the issue. The party also called for advancing the winter session of Parliament to address the growing concerns over internal security.
Besides, it posed several questions to the government on the grave intelligence failures, which led to such a huge quantity of explosive material reaching within the 20 km vicinity of the national capital.
The party also expressed profound condolences and solidarity with the bereaved families of the 13 victims, who were killed in the blast. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured and grieving. The country stands united against terrorism in all its forms,” the party said.
Addressing a press conference, party spokesperson and Chairman of the Media and Publicity Department Pawan Khera also reminded the government of its assertion about “new normal” that any terror attack will be treated as an act of war.
The Congress spokesperson asked whether the Union Home Minister Amit Shah should continue in his position in view of the repeated intelligence failures. He pointed out, when the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack took place, the then Union Home Minister had resigned.
Khera also expressed surprise that it took the government 48 hours to acknowledge the Red Fort blast as an act of terror. “For three days, confusion and speculation were allowed to fester while official acknowledgement was delayed”, he noted, adding, “the people of India deserve to know why it took so long for the government to call this what it was, and why it failed to prevent yet another terror strike in the heart of the capital”.
Referring to the gross intelligence failure, he said, “this tragic incident once again exposes serious and repeated intelligence failures as reports said that 2,900 kilograms of explosives were recovered in connection with this attack”. He pointed out, in just seven months, the country has witnessed another major terror attack. “The Pahalgam attack was also considered an intelligence failure. What did the government learn from that attack, and why did it fail to prevent this one?” he asked, adding, “Will Home Minister Amit Shah take responsibility, given that several major terror attacks have occurred under his watch?”
Listing various terror attacks during last ten years, he pointed out, incidents like 2015 Gurdaspur attack, 2016 Pathankot air base attack, 2016 Pampore attack, 2016 Uri attack, 2016 Nagrota army base attack, 2017 Amarnath Yatra attack, 2019 Pulwama attack, 2023 Rajouri attacks, 2024 Reasi attack, 2025 Pahalgam attack and now the Red Fort blast have all taken place under the Modi government.
“Yet the Home Minister continues to hold office. Will he accept responsibility for these lapses? Why do such intelligence failures continue to happen despite repeated warnings? With just seven months since the Pahalgam attack, what lessons has the government truly learned, if any?” Khera asked.
The senior Congress leader wondered how nearly 2,900 kilograms of explosives entered the national capital undetected. “Who will be held accountable for this grave lapse?” he questioned the government.
Khera noted that now that the blasts have been officially termed a terror attack, the nation also deserves clarity on whether the so-called “new normal” proclaimed by the Prime Minister after the Pahalgam attack will be reflected in the government’s counter-terror response to this incident. He asked whether the government will act on the “new normal” doctrine to bring those responsible for this attack to justice. He pointed out, this terror attack derives support, sustenance and inspiration from external forces.
Pawan Khera suggested that the Government of India must engage with all political parties to ensure a cohesive approach to national security, strengthen coordination with state governments, and make every possible effort to ensure the safety of citizens and tourists, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.
