Kharge slams PM Modi for missing all-party meeting on Pahalgam terror attack

After the Pahalgam terror attack, in its first target on BJP-led government, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence from the all-party meeting a "shame".

While paying tributes to the victims of the terror attack, the Congress chief said, "Congress will be the first to teach a proper lesson to anyone who dares to raise eyes against the pride and honour of the nation."

In a scathing attack on the PM for his absence from the all-party meeting called after the incident, he said, "It is the misfortune of our country that Prime Minister Modi did not come to the all-party meeting on the Pahalgam terror attack. This is a matter of shame," he said.

He added "Modi gives election speeches in Bihar, but cannot come to the meeting being held in Delhi."

Earlier, ahead of the all-party meeting, the Congress had insisted that it should be chaired by the PM. However, it was chaired by Rajnath Singh.

"I had said in a press conference in Bengaluru that the Prime Minister should call an all-party meeting, because when the pride of the country is hurt, we all should remain united. We wanted that in this meeting the Prime Minister should talk about his plan and also take suggestions from the people," he said.

"Apart from this, we also called a CWC meeting, in which we had decided that we all are with the government. We had also said in the meeting that in this difficult time, we are with the government in any step taken by it."