‘Will call it blast’: Congress attacks Centre over delay in calling Delhi explosion ‘terror incident’; demands all-party meet | India News

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Pawan Khera on Thursday slammed the central government for taking 48 hours to officially call the Delhi car blast near Red Fort a “terrorist incident.” Addressing a press conference in the Indira Bhavan, Khera questioned the government’s handling of national security and demanded accountability for what he termed a serious intelligence failure.“So far, 13 people have died in this blast, and many more are injured. Our prayers are with the victims and their families. I am calling it a ‘blast’ because the Union Cabinet took 48 hours to call it a ‘terrorist incident’,” Khera said.He also questioned the Centre’s silence and delay in responding to the incident, pointing to a massive security lapse.“Now, 2,900 kilograms of explosives reached just 20 kilometres from Delhi, outside the Red Fort, in a car that exploded causing death and injuries. Who is being held accountable for the safety of the capital city?”Khera also called for an All-Party Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address national security concerns. He also hit out at PM Modi for his recent visit to Bhutan.“The Congress party urges the government to call an immediate All-Party Meeting under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. His priority may be Bhutan, but this is a matter of national security,” he said.The Congress leader drew parallels with the 2001 Parliament attack, recalling how India had faced a similar assault in its capital during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure. “You may remember, a major attack took place in the nation’s capital in 2001 at the Parliament. At that time, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. It is truly shocking that despite so much intelligence and so many security agencies with top officials like Ajit Doval and Amit Shah in charge, such a huge quantity of explosive material, nearly 2,900 kilograms, could reach Faridabad,” he said.The government on Wednesday has classified the Red Fort car blast as a terrorist incident in a Cabinet resolution passed. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, briefing reporters after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Modi, said the attack was “a heinous terrorist act perpetrated by anti-national forces through a car explosion near Red Fort.”The resolution said the Cabinet “unequivocally condemns this dastardly and cowardly act” and reaffirmed India’s “zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.” It also directed security agencies to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators, collaborators and sponsors behind the attack.The powerful explosion near Lal Quila Metro Station on Monday ripped through a Hyundai i20 car, killing 13 people and injuring several others. Preliminary post-mortem findings revealed victims suffered multiple fractures, head trauma and severe internal injuries due to the blast’s impact.Investigators suspect the blast was carried out by a Jaish-e-Mohammad module, recently uncovered by Indian security agencies. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formed a dedicated team led by senior officers to conduct a comprehensive probe.Authorities have confirmed that DNA samples were collected from the mother of Dr Umar Un Nabi, the alleged driver of the car that exploded. The Forensic Science Laboratory is analysing the explosives to determine their composition.The 2001 Parliament attack, which Khera referenced had claimed nine lives and pushed India and Pakistan to the brink of war. On December 13, 2001, five terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad stormed the Parliament complex leading to a deadly gun battle inside the premises.