Pahalgam Attack: 'PM Modi Had Intel 3 Days Before J&K Attack, Cancelled Own Visit', Alleges Cong Chief Kharge

Days after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in possession of an intel report suggesting a possible terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir based on which, he called off his own visit to the union territory.

Earlier, officials said the visit of the prime minister, which was scheduled for April 19, was postponed due to adverse weather forecasts predicting high-speed winds in the Katra area, as per PTI.

Addressing a crowd at the 'Samvidhan Bachao Rally' in Ranchi on Tuesday, Kharge said an intel report was sent to the PM three days before the Pahalgam attack happened on April 22.

"There is an intelligence failure, the government has accepted it and they will resolve 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, I also read this in a newspaper", the Congress chief said.

Questioning the government's acknowledgement of an intelligence failure  during a closed door all-party meeting on April 24, Kharge asked, "They said they would improve it. Our question is when you know about it then why were good arrangements not made?"

A report by India Today said that the Centre has also faced pertinent questions from the Opposition leaders on not informing the security agencies before opening the Baisaran area near Pahalgam in Anantnag district, which traditionally remains restricted until the Amarnath Yatra in June.

According to PTI, days before the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, intelligence agencies had flagged the potential targeting of tourists, especially those staying in hotels on the outskirts of Srinagar in the foothills of the Zabarwan range.