India’s opposition parties have called for the governor of occupied Kashmir to resign with an apology to the people of the territory after he admitted to a “security failure” in the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people, Dawn.com reported.

On April 22, 26 tourists were killed at a hill station in Pahalgam, India-held Kashmir. New Delhi has blamed Islamabad for the attack without providing any evidence, an accusation the latter denies. Pakistan has called for an international independent probe into the massacre.

In a recent interview with the Times of India, held Kashmir Lieutenant Governor and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Manoj Sinha said, “I take full responsibility for the incident, which was undoubtedly a security failure.”

In response to the admission, numerous Indian politicians slammed him for negligence and for his delay in taking accountability and called for his resignation.

Demand follows Manoj Sinha’s admission of ‘security failure’ in Pahalgam attack

The Indian National Congress |(INC) suggested that Sinha intended to shield “unspecified officials” in the union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, The Wire reported.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said in a post on X, “He (Sinha) finally takes responsibility for Pahalgam after 82 days of the attack. In doing so, who is he protecting in Delhi? How many days, weeks, months to also be held accountable and resign or get sacked?”

Similarly, INC national spokesperson, Shama Mohamed asked: “Since [Sinha] has taken full responsibility for the security lapse during the Pahalgam attack — when is he resigning? In a democracy, the next step after taking the responsibility is resignation!”

Meanwhile, Imran Nabi Dar, spokesperson for the held Kashmir ruling party, National Conference, told The Wire that the “next logical step for him (Sinha) should be to step down and apologise to the people of Jammu and Kashmir whose lives, livelihood and dignity were put at stake due to his blunders”.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and general secretary MY Tarigami said that his party had been demanding accountability from the union government since the attack. He called for the government to provide details about the lapses that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.

“All those responsible should be held accountable. Acceptance means certain action against those who have committed such a grave mistake,” he was quoted as saying by the report.

Meanwhile, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman also reacted to the interview, saying the admission came “well after two months and after going to a whole war over it”.

“The opposition in the Lok Sabha should really take down this regime for the spectacular incompetence that jeopardised Indian lives, credibility and reputation. The momentum is right there.”

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2025