The Congress on Thursday demanded that the government bring forward the date of the winter session of Parliament scheduled to be held on December 1 and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi chair an all-party meeting in view of the explosion that occurred near the Red Fort on November 10.
Congress also sought to clarify whether the “new normal doctrine” adopted by the government in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack under which any future terrorist strike would be an act of war still stands.
Demanding accountability, Pawan Khera, head of the Information and Publicity Department, AICC, said: “It is surprising that 48 hours after this incident, the Cabinet admitted that it was a terrorist incident. This raises serious questions.”
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The Union Cabinet on Wednesday described the blast near the Red Fort, in which thirteen people were killed, as a “heinous terrorist incident committed by anti-national forces” and ordered the investigation to continue with “utmost urgency and professionalism so that the culprits, their collaborators and sponsors are identified and brought to justice without delay.”
After the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, Khaira said: “The Prime Minister said that there is a ‘new normal doctrine’ that any terrorist attack will be considered an act of war… This terrorist act draws its strength, support and inspiration from external forces. So, we want to know from the Prime Minister whether the so-called ‘new normal doctrine’ still exists?”
“There are a lot of security agencies, there are (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah, (National Security Advisor) Ajit Doval, who say our watchful eyes are always open. So how did 2,900 kg of explosive material reach Faridabad?” Khaira said.
“We asked about the Pulwama attack as to how RDX reached there, but there is no answer to this day… And now, 2,900 kg of explosives have reached a place just 20 km from the national capital…,” he said.
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Pointing out that the then Home Minister Shivraj Patel had resigned in the wake of the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai under the United Progressive Alliance, Khaira asked that under the NDA-led government, “Who takes responsibility? The entire country is asking questions… Whenever there is a terrorist attack… we said that the government should take strict steps and we are with them.”
He said: “We demand that a meeting be held for all parties headed by the Prime Minister… and you cannot participate in it out of arrogance…” “We also called for the date of the (winter) session of Parliament to be brought forward… given that there is a serious challenge facing the country… We are with the government but it must take a stand.”
(tags for translation) Red Fort blast
