Gave full support to Modi govt, now want special Parliament session: TMC

New Delhi: Stepping up pressure on the government, Trinamool Congress on Wednesday demanded a special session of Parliament next month to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and subsequent developments.

The party said that the session could be held after multi-party delegations visiting various countries return to India by June 5, but it should be held before the Monsoon Session, which is normally called in the third week of July every year.

Congress and Trinamool are coordinating with other Opposition parties to jointly raise the demand for a session to exclusively discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, ceasefire announcement, US President Donald Trump's claims and Pakistan targeting civilians in Poonch, Rajouri and Uri.

Trinamool Rajya Sabha Deputy Leader Sagarika Ghose told reporters that her party stood with the government post the Pahalgam attack and during Operation Sindoor.

She said Trinamool and also supported the multi-party delegations sent abroad to campaign against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism by nominating its national General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, to the delegation.

"We now believe that, having given full support to the government, we are now supporting the demand first made by independent MP Kapil Sibal, that there must be a special session of Parliament. We demand that a special session be held in June, before the Monsoon session," she said.

Trinamool leaders said the Opposition is working together to push for a special session of Parliament. Sources indicated that the parties are looking at the option of sending a joint letter to the government on calling a special session.

"We, the parties who are fighting the BJP, are working together and moving ahead together on the demand for a special session of Parliament," Trinamool Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek O'Brien said. Separately, Congress Lok Sabha Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi said they were in talks with allies on the issue.

Besides Sibal, Leaders of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge (Rajya Sabha) and Rahul Gandhi (Lok Sabha) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while last week, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had raised the demand.

On Tuesday, the Trinamool Parliamentary Party met at Central Hall in Samvidhan Sadan, the Old Parliament Building, and passed a resolution seeking a special session and signed a letter to be sent to the Prime Minister.

A five-member Trinamool delegation, including O'Brien and Ghose, had also visited Poonch, Rajouri and Uri last week. Rahul also visited Poonch.