Priyanka Gandhi Slams Modi Over Ceasefire, Calls Halt to War a “National Failure”

Congress leader questions intelligence lapse, seeks accountability after Pahalgam terror attack and sudden U.S.-announced truce

In a fiery speech during Parliament’s monsoon session on Tuesday, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of evading responsibility for halting India’s military action prematurely in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Her words weren’t laced with diplomacy. They were blunt, emotional, and echoed the frustration of a political opposition that says it’s been sidelined amid growing national security concerns.

“Why did the war stop when the enemy was cornered?”

The crux of Priyanka Gandhi’s argument hit home with a sharp question: why was the war stopped at a time when, as she put it, “the enemy had nowhere to go”?

Speaking from the Lok Sabha floor, she tore into the government’s version of Operation Sindoor, a military offensive launched in retaliation to the terror attack in Pahalgam earlier this month. Three terrorists were killed in the operation, but public outrage mounted after the U.S. President Donald Trump made the ceasefire announcement—before India did.

For Gandhi, that was the last straw.

“Leadership is not just about taking credit. It is also about taking responsibility,” she said. Her voice rising, she added, “And for the first time in our history, a war was stopped mid-course with the announcement coming from the President of the United States.”

No answers, just memories of Nehru and tears

Taking a jab at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Priyanka said, “He talked about Nehru, about Indira Gandhi, even about my mother’s tears. But not once did he tell the House why the war was halted.”

The reference to Sonia Gandhi’s emotional moments seemed aimed at humanizing the political drama, but Priyanka wasn’t having it. She demanded facts, not nostalgia.

In a chamber usually divided by partisan lines and controlled speeches, her remarks stood out for their raw tone. This wasn’t just political theater. There was real anger.

A searing critique of the government’s security preparedness

She didn’t stop at the ceasefire.

Priyanka raised deeper questions: why wasn’t the valley of Baisaran, a known tourist hotspot, secured? Why were civilians left “at God’s mercy”?

She turned the spotlight on India’s intelligence apparatus. “Did no government agency know that such a dastardly attack was being planned in Pakistan?” she asked.

At one point, she directly asked if any resignations had been submitted. “This is a massive failure of our intelligence and governance. Has anyone taken responsibility?”

Her question lingered. No one on the Treasury benches rose to respond.

One sentence here. The silence was telling.

A U.S.-led ceasefire that India didn’t announce

Perhaps the most politically sensitive point in her speech was the role of the United States in declaring the ceasefire.

It wasn’t South Block that told the Indian people. It was Donald Trump.

This isn’t the first time Trump has inserted himself into a South Asian conflict. But this time, he jumped ahead of India’s leadership and claimed the diplomatic credit—something Priyanka Gandhi found unacceptable.

For many in the Congress, and some outside it too, this moment felt humiliating.

A senior Congress strategist, speaking off the record, said, “It was like India lost not just control of its border—but its narrative.”

What Operation Sindoor achieved—and didn’t

Operation Sindoor, launched hours after the terror attack in Pahalgam killed at least 14, was initially projected as a high-precision military response.

Home Minister Amit Shah told Parliament that all three attackers had been neutralized. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has since launched an inquiry into the mastermind’s killing in Srinagar.

But critics say it wasn’t enough.

Here’s what we know so far:

• Attackers neutralized: Three militants responsible for the attack were killed.

• Area sanitization: Security forces reportedly swept surrounding forest regions.

• Cross-border alerts: Intelligence picked up chatter of more attempts brewing in Pakistani training camps.

• Civilian trust: Remains severely shaken in the Kashmir Valley.

• Diplomatic fallout: India appeared reactive, not proactive, on the international stage.

Table: Timeline of Key Events in Pahalgam Attack & Aftermath

One sentence here. The order of announcements has become the center of political fire.

Congress pushes for accountability, BJP stays mum

While BJP MPs mostly remained silent during Priyanka’s remarks, some party leaders later accused the Congress of politicizing a national security issue.

Still, the question hung in the air: why was there no public Indian statement on the ceasefire until after Trump’s?

Opposition MPs were visibly agitated. Even a few neutral lawmakers appeared uneasy with the government’s lack of transparency on the war’s sudden halt.

What’s next for Operation Sindoor—and for Modi?

With the monsoon session still underway, the debate over Operation Sindoor is far from over.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Leader of the House JP Nadda are expected to address the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, as the government tries to reset the narrative.

But Priyanka Gandhi’s words will be hard to shake off.

“Leadership isn’t photo-ops and announcements from Washington. It’s answering your own Parliament,” she said, her voice steely.

For now, the government seems to be choosing silence over confrontation. But pressure is building—inside and outside the House.