The Indian Parliament building.
Credit: PTI File Photo
New Delhi: The Opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc is mulling submitting a joint letter to the government seeking a Special Session of Parliament to discuss Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and subsequent developments like ceasefire and Pakistan's targeting of Poonch, Rajouri and Uri.
Since April 25, several parties and independent MP Kapil Sibal have raised the demand besides an all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Leaders of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge (Rajya Sabha) and Rahul Gandhi (Lok Sabha) have submitted separate letters demanding the special session while other parties also have written to Modi seeking special session.
Sources said there are now plans for sending a joint letter signed by leaders of Opposition parties seeking a special session to discuss the April 22 terror strike, Operation Sindoor and subsequent developments. Opposition parties like Trinamool Congress also want to raise the Pakistani attack in Poonch, Rajouri and Uri where civilians were targeted.
A five-member MPs' delegation of Trinamool Congress visited Poonch, Rajouri and Uri while Rahul visited Poonch separately.
On Tuesday, the Trinamool Parliamentary Party met in the Central Hall of 'Samvidhan Sadan', the old Parliament building, where party's Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs passed a resolution endorsing party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's demand for a special session and said they were sending a letter to the Prime Minister in this regard.
"We have all signed a letter to the Prime Minister requesting that a special session of Parliament be held after the MPs' delegations return home from their travels on June 5," Trinamool Rajya Sabha Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha Sagarika Ghose said after the meeting.
Ghose said the Trinamool has supported the multi-party delegations sent abroad to convey India's message against terrorism and now the people of the country also deserve to know about the steps taken by the government in combating Pakistan sponsored terrorism.
Mamata has said that while they have fully cooperated with the government in sending its MP in the delegation abroad that have gone to speak about India's resolve against Pakistan-based terrorism, it is time to convene a special session of Parliament.
At the meeting, the MPs also observed a minute of silence at the meeting as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives in the Pahalgam attack and subsequent action. Several Opposition parties have sought a special session and all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sources said Trinamool has sent its national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, also an MP, as part of the multi-party delegation and it showed the party's seriousness. They said the Trinamool wants the Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, Pakistan attack on Poonch, Rajouri and Uri where civilians were targeted and subsequent developments, including ceasefire.
"We want the national and international aspects of April 22 and post April 22 be discussed in Parliament," a senior leader said.