Jayadev decries branding of those questioning Centre as anti-nationals

Taking objection to the branding of those questioning the Centre’s alleged failure in preventing the terrorist attack at Pulwama as anti-nationals, Guntur MP Galla Jayadev said a top US intelligence official hinted in January that there was a high scope for border conflicts and communal riots in the run-up to general elections in India.

‘Serious lapse’

Addressing the media here on Saturday, Mr. Jayadev said it was because of glaring intelligence failure and procedural lapses that the incident took place, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was out of bounds for at least three-and-a-half hours after the CRPF personnel were ambushed at 3.10 p.m. If information was not available to him for so long, it was also a serious lapse.

“Mr. Modi has to explain all these things,” the MP demanded.

On top of the failure of the intelligence establishment, Mr. Jayadev said, the road was not cleansed before it was opened for the CRPF convoy and private traffic was allowed at that time.

‘Modi’s demand in 2013’

When he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Modi had demanded the resignation of the then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, holding him responsible for a major terrorist strike in 2013, Mr. Jayadev recalled. Mr. Modi should tell what he was supposed to do after the Pulwama incident happened, Mr. Jayadev said, and asserted that patriotism was not his (Mr. Modi’s) sole right or that of the BJP.