Govt Should Locate and Eliminate Remaining Pahalgam Militants: Kharge in Rajya Sabha
Kharge criticized PM Modi for remaining silent on Donald Trump’s repeated assertions that he mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday stated that the central government must identify and eliminate the remaining militants responsible for the April 22 attack in Pahalgam.
While participating in the discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticizing his lack of response to former US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he acted as a mediator in arranging a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during the said military operation.
Kharge questioned why the announcement about the ceasefire originated from Washington, not New Delhi. “The Prime Minister or Defence Minister did not announce the ceasefire — it came from Washington,” he remarked, referencing Trump’s statements.
He also cast doubt on Trump’s statement that five fighter jets were downed during the military confrontation in May, and demanded that the Prime Minister issue a definitive clarification.
“PM Modi, who traveled all the way to the United States and addressed a rally in support of Trump, even said there, ‘Phir ek baar Trump sarkar.’ Now, he must publicly denounce his ‘close friend’ who recently claimed that five fighter aircraft were shot down in the Indo-Pak conflict,” Kharge said.
“If no Indian jet was destroyed, then PM Modi should declare it clearly — the nation seeks the truth,” he added.
Kharge also urged the government to disclose the terms and understanding of the ceasefire agreement. “The government must clarify on what basis the ceasefire was reached. Was there American involvement?” he questioned.
Additionally, the Congress chief criticized PM Modi’s continued silence on controversial remarks made by BJP lawmakers and ministers, which Kharge claimed were disrespectful to India’s armed forces.
“Why does the Prime Minister maintain silence when his party’s MPs and ministers belittle our military?” he asked.
