In a charged and emotional address during today’s Monsoon Session of Parliament, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra delivered a scathing critique of the government’s handling of the Pahalgam terror attack and responded to earlier statements made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Her speech ignited sharp exchanges across the aisle, with the Congress benches rallying in support as BJP members countered her assertions with interruptions and pointed remarks.
The debate unfolded under the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, where the government reported successful counter-terror operations in Kashmir. However, Priyanka Gandhi focused her intervention on the loss of civilian lives in Pahalgam, declaring the killings a “major failure of Indian agencies.”
“No matter how many operations you carry out, you cannot hide behind this truth. You could not keep them safe,” she said, emphasizing the human toll of the attack.
Priyanka’s remarks took a poignant turn when she began reading out the names of the 25 Indian victims. “They were Indians,” she said, pushing back against BJP members who interjected with chants of “Hindus.” Her emphasis on the identity of the victims as Bharatiya was both a symbolic and political response, countering communal framing with national unity.
“They were also humans like us, not pawns in a larger political game. Their families deserve to know the truth,” she asserted, as members of the Opposition pounded their desks in support.
A Response to Amit Shah’s Comments on Sonia Gandhi
Earlier in the day, Home Minister Amit Shah had reignited controversy by recalling an incident from 2008, claiming that Sonia Gandhi wept for the terrorists killed in the Batla House encounter.
“She should have cried for Shaheed Mohan Sharma instead of the Batla House terrorists,” Shah had remarked.
Priyanka, in a direct rebuttal, invoked her family’s personal losses to reclaim the narrative.
“He spoke about my mother’s tears. My mother cried when her husband was martyred by terrorists. When she was all of 44. I talk about the pain of the families because I can actually feel their pain and anguish.”
Her response struck a personal chord, framing the remarks not just as political discourse but as deeply human and emotional testimony.
Calling Out Accountability and Deflecting Blame
Priyanka Gandhi also challenged the BJP’s tendency to reference historical leadership errors, especially those involving Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi, to justify current shortcomings. She redirected the focus toward present-day governance.
“You dwell on history, I want to talk of the present. You just need an excuse to blame my family. You have been in power for the past 11 years. Take your own responsibility.”
Criticizing the government’s response to the Pahalgam attack, she highlighted a lack of preventive measures and emergency support in Baisaran Valley, the site of the attack.
“There was no security, no first aid. You left them at the mercy of God. Are the prime minister, home minister, defence minister, NSA not responsible?”
Her comments reflected a broader argument about institutional accountability and questioned the continued tenure of the current Home Minister in the wake of security lapses.
On Modi, Ceasefire, and Political Credit
Priyanka also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role in the crisis and broader leadership approach. She criticized what she described as his eagerness to take credit for military victories while avoiding responsibility for failures.
“He wants to walk away with the credit of Operation Sindoor, just like claiming credit for Indian athletes winning medals at the Olympics.”
She referenced the unexplained ceasefire between India and Pakistan, terming it a moment of strategic inconsistency.
“Why did you give sharan (refuge)? Why did this ceasefire happen? Why did the war end?”
In doing so, Priyanka echoed concerns raised a day earlier by Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, framing the government’s silence around the ceasefire as an evasion of critical national security dialogue.
Who Said What: Key Statements from the Debate
| Name | Position | Key Statement |
|---|---|---|
| Priyanka Gandhi Vadra | Congress MP | “They were Indians. Not pawns in a political game.” |
| Amit Shah | Union Home Minister | “Sonia Gandhi wept for Batla House terrorists. She should have cried for Shaheed Mohan Sharma.” |
| Priyanka Gandhi Vadra | Congress MP | “My mother cried when her husband was martyred by terrorists.” |
| Priyanka Gandhi Vadra | Congress MP | “You left them at the mercy of God… No first aid, no protection.” |
| Priyanka Gandhi Vadra | Congress MP | “You have been in power 11 years. Take your own responsibility.” |
Today’s Monsoon Session witnessed one of the most emotionally charged and politically consequential debates in recent times. Priyanka Gandhi’s address blended personal testimony, political accountability, and national identity into a broader critique of the ruling government’s crisis management. With key issues like terror response, civilian safety, and historical blame games at the center, the Parliament remains a battleground not just of policies, but of perception and political memory.
