Page 24 - 15MAR2019E

CoverStory

Congress critical

of Centre over

Pulwama attack

Rival political parties allege that despite intelligence alerts of
possible terror strike, the government completely failed to act
timely to avert the strike that killed 40 CRPF troops,
reports mudit mathur

ftermath of recent Pul- ride to look at crocodiles.”
wama terror attack has “It is horrific that till four hours after
now attracted sharp criti- such an attack, Modi was busy with his
cism of the Modi govern- own branding, photoshoot and snacks,”
A ment from all the rival Surjewala tweeted. He also alleged that
political parties. Congress leaders cor- the shooting went on till 6:30 pm on 14
nered him through series of tweets just February and that thereafter PM had
after a week of mourning. Congress tea and snacks at 6:45 pm.
party swung into action with loaded Politicking is at its peak a week af-
questions targeting alleged intelli- ter Pulwama attack as the Congress
gence lapses and lack of empathy of the trained guns at Modi, accusing him of
Modi government towards the security continuing shooting for a “publicity
forces. and propaganda” documentary at Jim
Forty CRPF jawans martyred in das- Corbett even after the information of
tardly terror attack in Pulwama area of terror attack and reached last at the
Jammu and Kashmir and the Gandhi airport to give homage to the mar-
siblings were found first to be present tyrs keeping everyone waiting for his
to pay homage at the Delhi airport and arrival.
at the doors of martyrs, ahead of Modi Rahul Gandhi tweeted on 22 Febru- ter Ravi Shankar Prasad, while address-
in Uttar Pradesh. ary, “Even three hours after the news ing media on Congress’ allegations, said,
Despite intelligence alerts of possi- of the martyrdom of 40 soldiers broke, “India will not stop, and should not stop,
ble terror strike, the government com- the ‘Prime Time Minister’ continued to for the sake of terrorists.”
pletely failed to act timely to avert the shoot a film. Even as the country and Congress leaders are questioning
Pulwama attack on CRPF troops killing the martyr’s families were drowned that was a political rally more impor-
our 40 brave soldiers besides leaving in an ocean of pain, he (PM Modi) con- tant than giving a response to the pub-
many injured. After Uri attack on Army tinued to laugh in his photo-shoot.” He lic on the terror attack? Priyanka and
headquarter of 12 brigades in 2016, it added, “Modi Took 3 hrs To React. First Rahul Gandhi participated in the prayer
has once again exposed the unprepar- Shoot, Rally, Then Tweet.” meeting of terror attack martyrs Amit
edness of the government to prevent Congress president also attached Kori in Shamli district in UP where a
reoccurrence such well-planned terror some photographs of Modi attending function was organized at the Raghu-
attacks. the photo-shoot and taking a boat ride nath temple in memory of the soldier.
Congress spokesperson Randeep in the scenic hilly state. Initially, BJP re- Amid chants of ‘Amit Kori Amar
Surjewala passionately attacked Modi futed his claim as “fake news” and clari- Rahe’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, the Con-
for “misdirected urgencies” and “not fied that the photographs were taken in gress chief Rahul Gandhi said that he
giving the attack its due importance”. the morning of 14 February, but one of understood the pain in people’s hearts.
Making shocking revelations he fur- the photo has been shared by Vishwa- “My sister said, in a way, the same
ther alleged, “When the entire country ketu Vaidya, social media convener of happened to our father,” he told the
was mourning the deaths of the jawans, Nainital BJP taken in the afternoon at family members.
Prime Minister Modi was shooting a 1.52 pm informing that the PM Modi Rahul and Priyanka were seen con-
film at Corbett National Park for Dis- has left for Dhikala zone of Jim Corbett soling the members of the bereaved
covery channel and indulging in a boat Park. Later in the evening Union Minis- family. While Priyanka Gandhi spoke to

Tehelka / 15 march 2019 4 www.Tehelka.com