By Kavita Mistry 
Mumbai: In his first reaction to the Pahalgam attack, NCP–SP leader Sharad Pawar Friday vowed full support to the Centre in whatever decision it takes, but also questioned the Modi dispensation’s persistent claims that terrorism was brought under control in Jammu & Kashmir with the abrogation of operative provisions of Article 370.
The veteran leader said, “In these tragic times, as a country we all need to stay together with the government and there should not be any politics on it.”
“The action of terrorists is against the country and when such a thing happens, one should not bring politics (into it). Yesterday, at an all-party meeting all opposition parties decided to support the government,” Pawar told a press conference at Sindhudurg.
At the all-party held in Delhi last evening, the Centre Thursday admitted that lapses led to the Pahalgam terror attack and told opposition leaders that local tour operators had opened the route to tourists without informing the administration because of which there was no security deployment in the area.
The NCP–SP was represented by Supriya Sule in the meeting.
Pawar, a former Union minister, also said Friday that the government should take the country’s security matters seriously.
“It was assumed that terrorism was eliminated from Kashmir… we should have been more alert. The government should correct their flaws. If the government is accepting their mistakes then they should change themselves and take steps urgently. And we all are with the government in whatever they decide,” said Pawar.
“It is being said that they were killed because they were Hindus. I am not exactly sure what happened. But women were left out and I met one of the women. She told me they did not touch us but killed our men.”
He said that since the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the government has maintained terrorism was under control in the Union Territory. “And we remained non-attentive (to the threat of terrorism).”
“But looking at Pahalgam, we should have been more alert,” he said.
He also cautioned people and society at large to not get divided on the lines of religion in the aftermath of the terrorist attack.
“Kashimiris came out on streets (after the attack) and stood with India, this a very good thing. But what I am concerned about is, it will cripple the Kashmiri economy as people (tourists) won’t go there. So the Centre should look at Kashmiris as well,” he said.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Also read: At all party meet, Modi govt admits lapses led to Pahalgam terror attack. Here’s what it told Oppn