By adbnu564 
In a sharp critique of the government’s handling of national security, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge targeted the central leadership during a rally in Karnataka, accusing the Modi government of engaging in “small wars” against Pakistan. Kharge’s veiled jab appeared to reference Operation Sindoor, a military operation carried out by India, which he suggested had been scaled down compared to its potential.
Addressing a crowd at the Samarpane Sankalpa rally, Kharge also expressed frustration over the government’s failure to prevent the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 innocent people last month. He revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been scheduled to visit Kashmir on April 17 but had abruptly canceled his trip after receiving intelligence warnings about a potential large-scale attack. Kharge questioned why the public had not been informed about the cancellation and whether this oversight contributed to the loss of life.
“PM Modi was scheduled to visit Kashmir on April 17, but intelligence agencies advised against it, warning of potential violence. The visit was quietly canceled. I ask, were you aware of this or not? If you were, why didn’t you inform the public? Had people been warned, 26 innocent lives could have been saved,” Kharge said.
Further, Kharge raised concerns over the government’s handling of foreign diplomacy, particularly after the launch of Operation Sindoor. He criticized the lack of consultation with opposition leaders regarding the multi-party delegations sent abroad to convey India’s position. However, Kharge emphasized that the priority should always be national security and the protection of the country, not political gains.
On the issue of political rallies, Kharge slammed Modi for prioritizing a rally in Bihar over attending crucial all-party meetings, particularly in light of the Pahalgam tragedy. “While 26 citizens were killed, PM Modi was busy holding a rally in Bihar. Two all-party meetings were held, and the Prime Minister didn’t attend either. If we had skipped those meetings, we would be called traitors. But when Modi skips them, it’s branded as patriotism. Why this double standard?” Kharge remarked.
BJP MP Sambit Patra quickly responded to Kharge’s comments, strongly defending the military operation and accusing the Congress leader of belittling the bravery of the Indian Armed Forces. “Kharge ji is saying that Operation Sindoor is a small war. Does Rahul Gandhi and Kharge ji not understand that our Armed Forces entered Pakistan and struck nine terror sites? Over 100 terrorists were killed, and Pakistan’s airbases were destroyed. Today, Pakistan is crying in pain, and yet you call this a small war,” Patra said, defending the operation’s significance.
The debate over the handling of national security and the political implications of military actions continues to unfold as the 2024 general elections draw closer. Both parties are increasingly positioning themselves on issues of national defense and diplomacy, with Kharge’s remarks fueling the ongoing discourse on the government’s actions and priorities.