16 I.N.D.I.A. leaders write to PM demanding special Parliament session on Pahalgam attacks, Operation Sindoor

New Delhi: Leaders of 16 I.N.D.I.A parties, including Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Abhishek Banerjee, have written a joint letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a Special Session of Parliament immediately to discuss Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and subsequent developments.

As five prominent Opposition parties in the bloc held a meeting on Tuesday before announcing the plan, AAP did not join the joint initiative owing to its differences with the Congress while NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) is learnt to be distancing itself from the exercise owing to its objections to holding a Special Session on a “sensitive” issue, exposing divisions within the I.N.D.I.A bloc.

Leader of Opposition Rahul, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh, Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Arvind Sawant and DMK's TR Baalu, among others, have signed the letter.

Leaders of RJD, National Conference, CPI(M), CPI, RSP, Muslim League, JMM, VCK, MDMK, CPI(ML)L, and Kerala Congress have also signed the letter while AAP sent a separate letter in the evening but with “same sentiment and the similar content” by Wednesday evening. NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar will also be approached again, leaders said.

The letter, sources said, refers to “serious questions” on the terror attack, killing of civilians in Poonch, Uri and Rajouri, the ceasefire announcements, and the implications on national security and foreign policy while insisting that the Opposition has supported the government’s efforts to engage with the international community on India’s position.

Another letter signed by Opposition MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is likely to be sent to the Prime Minister within a couple of days as part of raising the decibel levels over the demand, even as government sources indicated that it is in no mood to convene a session immediately, claiming that MPs can raise the issue during the Monsoon Session, which usually starts in third week of July.

After the meeting of five I.N.D.I.A parties, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek O'Brien said, "sixteen parties have written a letter to the PM demanding a Special Session...The government is responsible to the Parliament and Parliament is responsible to the people. That's why we are demanding a special session of the Parliament."

Besides O'Brien, the meeting was attended by Jairam Ramesh and Deepender Hooda (Congress), Ramgopal Yadav (SP), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena-UBT) and Manoj K Jha (RJD). DMK was not part of the meeting as its leaders were in Tamil Nadu attending a programme linked to the birth anniversary of late M Karunanidhi.

Yadav was not impressed with the post Pahalgam scenario and said, “we want to know which nations supported us. Not even a single nation came out in support of India. This is worrisome. We were unsuccessful on the diplomatic front...US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire. The public feels that we were forced into a truce. India’s respect has fallen all over the world.”

Raut said, “we are asking why not a special session. Trump might have announced the ceasefire, but we won't ask Trump for a special session, right? We will approach our Prime Minister for a special session.” When asked about NCP (SP)'s stand, he said, “Sharad Pawar is also with us. Supriya Sule is out with the delegation. When I return to Mumbai, I will speak with Pawar.”

Jha said Trump made 13 statements in 15 days and those statements have hurt India's sentiments. “If Parliament is called for this, we will speak in one language...The CDS has given a statement...We will not discuss it on social media. We want it to be discussed in Parliament. This is not a matter of government and opposition, it is a matter of accountability.”