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VCK’s Thirumavalavan demands Amit Shah’s resignation – ‘Tourists who trusted BJP’s safety claims killed’

In recent years, the BJP administration has pointed to the abrogation of Article 370 — a controversial move that revoked the state’s special status — as a turning point in its fight against militancy.

VCK leader and the prominent Dalit leader Thol. Thirumavalavan. (File photo)

In the aftermath of Tuesday’s deadly terror attack in Pahalgam in Kashmir that claimed the lives of at least 26 – mostly tourists — Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader and the prominent Dalit leader Thol. Thirumavalavan called for the immediate resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, holding the BJP government squarely responsible for what he described as “a tragedy born out of flawed decisions.”

“The BJP government’s wrong moves and flawed decisions in Jammu and Kashmir has led to this tragedy,” Thirumavalavan, an MP from Chidambaram whose party is also a key ally of Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, said at the Chennai International Airport Wednesday. “This event proves that the union home ministry has failed in carrying out their duty.”

Indian authorities have been scrambling to respond to the attack. In recent years, the BJP administration has pointed to the abrogation of Article 370 — a controversial move that revoked the state’s special status — as a turning point in its fight against militancy.

But the attack, which targeted a group of tourists in one of the Valley’s most popular destinations, has revived questions about the government’s security strategy.

Thirumavalavan, unambiguous in his criticism, said: “The BJP has been boasting that the abrogation of Article 370 will wipe off terrorism there. And they did it, and let tourists throng to Kashmir assuring that it is safe. Tourists who trusted their words and went there have been killed now”.

In a direct call for accountability, the VCK leader demanded that Shah “should take the moral responsibility of the incident and resign from the union home minister post immediately”.

Arun Janardhanan

Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority. Expertise Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews. Key Coverage Areas: State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor. Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties. Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu. Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail. His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism. Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More

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