Where Are the Culprits of Pulwama? And Now Pahalgam? Modi Govt Faces Renewed Questions on Accountability and Security Failures
New Delhi — As the nation reels from the horror of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, in which at least 28 innocent civilians were brutally killed, many of them after being singled out by religion, fresh questions are being raised about the Modi government’s accountability and its repeated security failures.
This latest tragedy has reignited public anger and political outrage, particularly as justice remains elusive for the victims of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, where over 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives in one of the worst strikes on Indian soil.
Pulwama: Still No Closure After Years
On February 14, 2019, a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a CRPF convoy in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, killing 40 jawans. The attack was claimed by JeM, a Pakistan-based terror outfit, but the larger questions about accountability remain unanswered to this day.
Despite massive public outrage, no official inquiry report has been made public, nor has the Modi government held any individual or institution responsible for the security lapse or intelligence failure that allowed 80 kg of RDX to be smuggled into what is supposed to be one of the most militarized zones on earth.
Opposition leaders, including Congress’ Rahul Gandhi and CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury, have consistently demanded answers:
“Who benefitted the most from the Pulwama attack? What’s the outcome of the inquiry? Who in the BJP government has been held accountable?” Gandhi asked on X (formerly Twitter).
The government, rather than addressing the concerns, launched counterattacks. BJP spokesperson G.V.L. Narasimha Rao labeled Gandhi a “sympathizer of LeT and JeM,” sidestepping the real questions on national security preparedness.
CPI(M) and Congress Demand Justice, Not Political Spin
CPI(M) leader Mohammed Salim asked a searing question: “Do we need a memorial to remind us of our incompetence?”
The lack of transparency, absence of justice for the Pulwama martyrs, and the use of their deaths for electoral gains during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections have only deepened public skepticism.
Fast Forward to 2025: Pahalgam Attack Unfolds New Horrors
Now, nearly six years later, terror has struck again in Pahalgam, Kashmir. On a peaceful tourist day in the Baisaran meadows, terrorists affiliated with The Resistance Front (TRF) — a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) — opened fire on tourists, reportedly selecting them based on their religion.
“Innocent people were asked about their religion before being shot,” said AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, calling the attack “more painful and shameful than Pulwama and Uri.”
One survivor from Pune recounted how her father, unable to recite an Islamic verse demanded by the attackers, was shot three times — in the head, ear, and back. Shubham Dwivedi, a newlywed from Kanpur, was also murdered when he failed to recite the Kalma, the Islamic declaration of faith.
Where Is the Government’s Accountability This Time?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, condemned the attack and promised the culprits “will not be spared.” Yet, the opposition and civil society alike are no longer satisfied with strong words.
Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, demanded a white paper on Pulwama and Pahalgam attacks:
“Where is the responsibility? Where is the accountability? Why is the Modi government silent on security lapses year after year?”
Surging Terror, Silence from the Top
In the last decade, terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir have seen a significant rise, especially under the BJP’s rule in the state and later through Governor’s rule. According to the Congress, there have been 18 major terror attacks under the Modi administration targeting Indian defense and security establishments.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala lashed out:
“448 jawans martyred, 280 civilians killed in terror attacks. Where is the ’56-inch chest’? Where is the red-eyed rage the Prime Minister promised?”
“The Modi government has more faith in Pakistan’s ISI, having even invited them to investigate the Pathankot airbase attack,” he said.
Unanswered Questions Continue to Haunt the Nation
As the nation mourns the lives lost in Pahalgam, just like Pulwama, the Modi government remains tight-lipped on the bigger questions:
• Where are the detailed investigation reports?
• Who has been held accountable for intelligence failures?
• What steps are being taken to prevent such targeted religious killings?
• Why is there no centralized policy for victim support and justice in terror attacks?
National Security Cannot Be a Political Tool
What is increasingly becoming clear is that terror attacks are being followed by cycles of promises, political point-scoring, and zero accountability. While martyrs’ families grieve in silence, political leaders play blame games or duck questions.
If the Pulwama attack exposed a major security failure, the Pahalgam massacre has ripped open the wounds of inaction, indifference, and religiously motivated violence — issues that demand answers, not slogans.
Until the government chooses transparency over propaganda and accountability over bravado, the culprits of Pulwama and Pahalgam may never truly be brought to justice.
