Kharge, Rahul ask PM for special Parliament session to discuss Pahalgam attack

Kharge had said that in this hour of crisis, everyone wants to fight together, 'but the BJP wants to spread venom and divide people'.

New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, spelling out the Opposition demand for a Special Session of Parliament to demonstrate the country's collective resolve against the backdrop of the Pahalgam terror attack.

The letters on Monday night came after a series of discussions within the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, as well as a couple of MPs having already written to the government seeking a Special Session to discuss the April 22 terror strike that killed 26 people.

Kharge, also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said in his letter, “at this moment, when unity and solidarity is essential, the opposition believes that it is important to convene a special session of both Houses of Parliament at the earliest.”

“This will be a powerful demonstration of our collective resolve and willpower to deal with the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam on innocent citizens on April 22. It is our fond hope that the session will be accordingly convened,” Kharge said.

In his letter, Rahul said the Pahalgam tragedy has “outraged every Indian” and at this critical time, India must show that we will always stand together against terrorism.

“The Opposition believes that a special session of both Houses of Parliament should be convened, where the representatives of the people can show their unity and determination. We request that such a special session be convened at the earliest,” he said.

On Monday, RJD's Manoj K Jha and CPI's P Sandosh Kumar had written to Modi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju demanding a Special Session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam attack. AAP's Sanjay Singh as well as independent MP Kapil Sibal and parties like Trinamool Congress, CPI(M) and Samajwadi Party are in favour of a Special Session.

Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said they had a discussion with several Opposition leaders after which the Congress President and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha wrote letters to Modi.

“This is the time to unite and to show the world that we are united. The situation in Pahalgam is sensitive. We are united and it is not the time for polarisation or divisiveness. We hope that the Prime Minister will accept this request and he will be present in Parliament,” Ramesh said.

Taking a potshot at the Prime Minister, he said Modi was absent at the all-party meeting, though he found time to attend an election rally in Bihar on the same day after abruptly returning from Saudi Arabia following the terror strike.

“He had time for an election rally and not an all-party meeting. We have heard that he is going to Bihar again on May 4. This is a sensitive time and we are not demanding the Session for scoring political points,” he said.