'Baisaran Meadows Opened Without Police Permission': Government Admits Security 'Lapses' At All-Party Meeting On Pahalgam Attack, Say Reports

New Delhi: Leaders across party lines on Thursday called for decisive action against terrorism and terror camps and assured the government of their full support. When Opposition leaders flagged security failure in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, government officials reportedly admitted that it was a “lapse”.

During the meeting, when the Opposition asked about the absence of forces at Baisaran meadows, the place where the attack took place, the government said that it was not informed by local authorities before opening the tourist spot near Pahalgam in Anantnag district of the state, reported India Today citing Opposition sources.

Union Home Minister told the Opposition leaders that there was no police permission for tourists to visit the Baisaran meadows, reported The Hindu citing sources. The meeting lasted for almost two hours. Shah also reportedly said that 500 security personnel were present in Pahalgam on April 22, the day when the attack took place and it took them almost 45 minutes to reach the spot.

The report in The Hindu also claimed that the Union Minister said that security agencies could not trace any communication signal within a radius of 50 km of Baisaran for at least five days before the Pahalgam attack.

What Kiren Rijiju Said After The Meeting?

After the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told reporters that all the parties agreed that India should fight terror unitedly and all parties said that they are with the government in this fight.

All political parties have given this message and their leaders have said in one voice that whatever step the government takes, they will support it.

Rijiju said the government assured leaders of action against terrorism and its backers.

"All the political leaders have in unanimous voice supported the action taken by the CCS with regard to Pakistan and also unanimously expressed support for any future action the government will take to fight terrorism,” the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said as reported by PTI.

"I feel that after this all-party meeting, we will succeed in this fight against terrorism and will act against Pakistan and its supporters who are behind this terror attack and remain united," Rijiju added.

Rahul Gandhi's Statement:

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said everyone at the meeting unequivocally condemned the terror attack and offered full support to the government.

"The opposition has given full support to the government to take any action," he said.

On April 22, five to six terrorists killed 28 people, including a local pony guide who lost his life while saving tourists. The terrorists singled out Hindu males and shot them dead.

Published on: Friday, April 25, 2025, 09:58 AM IST