Kolkata, June 16 (UNI) West Bengal ruling Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who was one of the MPs to represent India's outreach mission immediately after Operation Sindoor, on Monday raised five questions before the Centre involving national security.
"It has been over 55 days since the Pahalgam terror attack. It is deeply concerning that in a democracy neither the mainstream media, members of the Opposition, nor the judiciary has stepped forward to raise these five critical questions before the government of India. However, as a citizen committed to the nation’s well-being and as a public representative entrusted with accountability, I raise these five questions," Banerjee said on his X handle.
He asked how four terrorists managed to infiltrate the border and launch an attack that killed 26 innocent civilians. "Where is the accountability for this massive breach in national security? Was it an intelligence failure, why was the Intelligence Bureau chief granted a one-year extension and, that too, barely a month after the attack? Why was he rewarded rather than held accountable? What is the compulsion?" questioned the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member.
He also asked: "If the GoI ( government of India) can conveniently use Pegasus spyware against Opposition leaders (including me), journalists and even judges, what stops it from using the same tools against terrorist networks and suspects?"
Banerjee also questioned the Centre on the whereabouts of the four terrorists. "Are they dead or alive? If they have been neutralized, why has the government failed to make a clear statement? And if they haven’t, why is the silence?"
He also raised the question when India will reclaim Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK).
"Why hasn’t the government officially responded to the US President’s claim that he persuaded India into a ceasefire with promises of trade -- just as the nation stood together irrespective of caste, creed religion and political affinity, celebrating the triumph of righteousness and saluting the valour and sacrifice of our armed forces? Why were the emotions of 140 crore Indians disregarded? What led to such a compromise?"
The government should also answer, Banerjee said, after reaching out to 33 countries post-Pahalgam in the last one month, how many extended their explicit support to India. Banerjee visited Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia under the leadership of JDU MP Sanjay Sharma.
"If we are truly a 'Vishwaguru' and the world’s fourth-largest economy, then why did the IMF and World Bank approve $1 billion and $40 billion financial assistance and long-term investments to Pakistan immediately after the Pahalgam attack?" he asked. "How did a nation repeatedly involved in cross-border terrorism not only escape global scrutiny and get rewarded? And more shockingly: Why was Pakistan appointed vice-chair of the UN Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee barely a month later?"
Banerjee said over Rs 2 lakh crore have been spent on external affairs over the past 10 years. "The Indian public deserves transparency, accountability and results -- not silence and spin. The nation awaits a response," Banerjee, who is also the nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, demanded.
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