Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], April 24: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has strongly criticised the apparent security lapses that enabled the Pahalgam terror attack, questioning how a high-tourist zone could lack basic protective measures. Addressing the media in Hyderabad, he demanded answers on how the attackers crossed into India and managed to execute a massacre in such a prominent area.
“There were no police personnel, no CRPF camp in an area full of tourists. The Quick Reaction Team took over an hour to respond. The attackers asked victims about their religion before shooting. This is shocking,” Owaisi said.
The April 22 terrorist attack at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam claimed 26 lives, including a Nepali tourist, marking it as one of the deadliest incidents since the 2019 Pulwama attack.
Owaisi also issued a stern warning: if militants can breach security to reach Pahalgam, they could potentially threaten cities like Srinagar.
“These attackers came from Pakistan, which continues to support such actions. How did they cross the border? Who is accountable? Justice will only be served when someone is held responsible and the perpetrators are punished,” he asserted.
In a significant development, Union Home Minister Amit Shah personally invited Owaisi to attend the central all-party meeting scheduled in Delhi to discuss the fallout of the Pahalgam attack. Owaisi confirmed he would be attending, saying:
“The Home Minister just called and asked where I am. I told him I would catch the next available flight to attend the meeting.”
Owaisi’s participation follows his earlier concerns that smaller political parties might be excluded from the meeting. He revealed on social media platform X that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had suggested limiting invitations to parties with five or more MPs, fearing the session would run too long.
“I told Rijiju, ‘What about smaller parties like us?’ He joked that my voice is too loud anyway,” Owaisi shared.
Owaisi reiterated that the fight against terrorism needs a united political front, regardless of party size, and questioned whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi couldn’t spare an extra hour to listen to all voices.