PM cancelled J&K visit due to intel: Kharge; BJP hits back

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi cancelled his Kashmir visit after "receiving an intelligence report" three days before the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

- Vishal Kant

RANCHI: He also alleged that the Centre should be held accountable for "not reinforcing" security arrangements in Kashmir to protect people.

The BJP hit back at Kharge, with the party's Jharkhand unit chief Babulal Marandi saying the Congress chief's criticism was intended to "lower the morale of security forces".

To be sure, the Prime Minister cancelled his visit to the region, scheduled for April 19, on account of bad weather.

Addressing the Congress's 'Samvidhan Bachao Rally' (save constitution rally) in Ranchi, Kharge said the Union government accepted "intelligence failure" during an all-party meeting called after the Pahalgam attack.