India’s opposition parties are demanding the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha after he publicly admitted to a major security lapse in the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people earlier this year.
In an interview with the Times of India, Sinha — a BJP leader and current administrator of Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK) — said, “I take full responsibility for the incident, which was undoubtedly a security failure.” The admission has reignited anger over the April 22 attack at the popular hill station, which also claimed the lives of 19 tourists on the ground.
India has blamed Pakistan for the assault, an accusation Islamabad strongly denies, calling instead for an international independent probe.
Following Sinha’s remarks, leaders across India’s political spectrum slammed him for his delay in acknowledging responsibility. The Indian National Congress (INC) accused him of shielding others in the Modi-led central government. “He finally takes responsibility after 82 days. Who is he protecting in Delhi?” asked INC spokesperson Pawan Khera on X.
Congress leader Shama Mohamed called the statement insufficient, demanding, “Since he’s accepted responsibility, when is he resigning? In a democracy, that’s the next step.”
The National Conference, which governs IoK, echoed the calls. Party spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said, “The next logical step is for him to step down and apologise to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader MY Tarigami urged transparency, asking the government to disclose details about the security lapses and hold all responsible parties accountable. “Acceptance of failure must be followed by action,” he said.
Across the border, Pakistan also weighed in. PPP Senator Sherry Rehman described the delayed admission as coming “well after two months and after going to a whole war over it.” She called on India’s opposition to hold the Modi government accountable for what she termed “spectacular incompetence.”
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari added fuel to the fire last week in an interview with The Wire’s Karan Thapar, saying the Indian public was “lied to” about Pakistan’s involvement. “If Pakistan had been responsible, there would be evidence,” he stated, pointing to India’s refusal to cooperate with an international investigation.
Bilawal claimed the Indian government used disinformation to “bamboozle” its own citizens, insisting that “The government has been unable to provide any proof, which is why the international community hasn’t endorsed its claims.”
As the political fallout intensifies, critics say Manoj Sinha’s admission may have opened the door to a larger reckoning over security failures and political accountability in one of India’s most volatile regions.