NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday criticised the Union government over the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. She said the attack happened due to the Centre’s “callousness” and accused the BJP of politicising the bravery of the armed forces.Speaking in the Bengal state assembly, Banerjee said, “Pahalgam terror attack is the result of Centre’s callousness, BJP trying to politicise valour of armed forces.”She also questioned the absence of forces during the attack, asking, “Why security personnel were absent at terror attack site in Pahalgam?”However, the Bengal chief minister praised the armed forces for their “bravery” during Operation Sindoor. “There was a need to teach (terrorists) a lesson, we salute (the) bravery of armed forces,” the Bengal CM said, adding that India “had an opportunity to take control of POK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir)”, during the military face-off with Pakistan.Calling for political accountability, Banerjee said, “The BJP government should go since it has failed to provide security to people of this country.”She also commented on India’s diplomatic stance, saying, “Not sure if our international diplomacy is having issues, Pakistan received loans from IMF instead of being cornered globally.”India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 and destroyed nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK in response to a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists. Following India’s strike, Pakistan retaliated with shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir, along with attempted drone attacks along the border.After Pakistan’s incursion, India escalated its response, targeting and destroying key Pakistani military and air infrastructure, including the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi and the Rahim Yar Khan airbase. Both countries reached an understanding to end hostilities on May 10.
