Pahalgam attackers to 'security lapse': What prompted Congress' tactical shift on Day 2 of Operation Sindoor debate?

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra speaks during a debate in the Lok Sabha on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. (PTI)

There is a marked shift, as if by design, in the Congress party's line of attack against the Centre over the Pahalgam attack on the second day of the discussion on Operation Sindoor.

As the discussion began in the Lok Sabha on Monday, the Congress trained its guns at the Centre over US President Donald Trump's claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, its failure to nab the culprits behind the terror attack in Pahalgam and asked the government to clarify the number of Indian fighter jets downed during Operation Sindoor, the military conflict between the two nations.

However, Day 2 of the discussion saw a tactical shift in the Congress party's line of attack against the government. While Trump's claims and questions on the number of Rafale aircraft allegedly downed during the conflict surfaced now and then, a major part of the Congress' offensive was concentrated on blaming the Pahalgam attack on "security failure".

At least three prominent speakers of the Congress party brought up the issue of security failure during their respective speeches in the Lower House.

Among the several issues that Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra raised during her 29-minute-long speech, the mention of the alleged absence of security personnel at the Baisaran valley in Pahalgam on April 22, the ill-fated day of the attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, was notable.

"Yesterday, the Defence Minister spoke for an hour, during which he spoke about terrorism, protecting the country, and also gave a history lesson. But one thing was left out - How did this attack happen?" Priyanka said addressing the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

"Why was not even one security personnel present there (Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam)?.. Is the safety and security of the citizens not the responsibility of the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Defence Minister?" she added.

Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge followed a similar line in the Upper House.

"Uri and Pathankot terrorist attacks in 2016, Pulwama in 2019 and now Pahalgam in 2025. All these incidents make it clear that there is a recurring Intelligence failure and failure in national security...I would like to ask the HM, who is responsible for this?...What did you do to rectify the mistake?...I would like to ask the HM, that who is responsible for this? Vacate your post if you are. If no, what action is the PM taking?" Kharge said.

"On 14th July 2025, J&K LG Manoj Sinha admitted that the Pahalgam terror attack was undoubtedly a security failure..."I take full responsibility for the incident which was undoubtedly a security lapse". The Home Minister should take responsibility, not the Lt Governor," Kharge said.

Congress MP in Lok Sabha KC Venugopal also targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the issue of security lapse. "My colleague Gaurav Gogoi started with a security failure issue. Everybody from this side repeated the same argument but our Home Minister didn't take a single word of security failure. Other than security failure, he spoke on everything."

"If you are calling tourists to visit Kashmir, is it not your primary duty to make available security for them?…We agree that terrorists are responsible for this incident (Pahalgam). Pakistan is behind this. But who gave the valuable 26 people's lives to the terrorists? Your ignorance," he said.

So, what transpired since the Parliament began discussing Operation Sindoor prompting this apparent change of strategy by the principal Opposition party in Parliament?

On Monday, the Indian Army said that at least three militants were killed in the Dachigam forest area on the outskirts of Srinagar. By afternoon, details of the identity of the terrorists neutralized began to emerge through security sources.

On Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed what media reports had been quoting security sources as saying. "Shah said the three terrorists killed on the outskirts of Srinagar Monday under Operation Mahadev were the same who carried out the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack," he said.

Shah identified the three terrorists as Suleiman alias Faisal, Afghan and Jibran, and said they had come from Pakistan.

"Suleiman was an LeT commander, and was involved in the Gagangeer attack. Our forces have evidence on it. These three were involved, and all three have been killed. Through this House, I thank the security personnel involved,” said Shah.

The details of terrorists and the government's confirmation that the three terrorists killed were indeed the Pahalgam attackers had taken the wind out the Congress' most potent line of attack, forcing its hand to fall back on the issue of security lapse.