Opposition leaders demand special parliament session on Operation Sindoor; NC’s Mian Altaf among signatories
New Delhi, June 3: Leaders from 16 opposition parties have jointly written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss the government's handling of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, reports PTI.
The INDIA bloc held a meeting in the national capital on Tuesday to press the demand.
Among those present were senior leaders from the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT). Congress’ Jairam Ramesh and Deepender Hooda, TMC’s Derek O’Brien, SP’s Ramgopal Yadav, RJD’s Manoj Jha, and Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut attended the meeting. Leaders confirmed that a letter signed by Members of Parliament from these parties was submitted to the Prime Minister, calling for the urgent convening of a special session.
The letter reads, “We, the leaders of INDIA, reiterate our collective and urgent request to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the developments following the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. The MPs of our parties have expressed their support for our demand by personally signing our letter.”
The letter further says, “There are serious questions facing the nation about the terror attack, killing of civilians in Poonch, Uri and Rajouri, the ceasefire announcements, and the implications on our national security and foreign policy. We have supported the government's efforts to engage with the international community on India's position. The government has briefed foreign nations and the media, but not Parliament – keeping the people of India and their elected representatives in the dark. Therefore, we urge you to convene a special session of Parliament immediately upon the return of the all-party delegations.”
Notably, Mian Altaf Ahmad, Member of Parliament of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, is also a signatory to the letter, along with leaders from the CPI(M), CPI, IUML, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Kerala Congress, MDMK, and CPI(ML) Liberation. The DMK has also signed the letter but was unable to attend the meeting due to party events marking the birth anniversary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
PTI said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) did not participate in the meeting, leaders said the party would be sending a separate letter to the Prime Minister supporting the demand. The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) is not part of this initiative.
Opposition parties have been demanding a special session since the Pahalgam terror attack. The issue was also raised during the all-party meeting held to brief lawmakers on Operation Sindoor. The Trinamool Congress has proposed that the session be held later in June, once multi-party delegations currently visiting foreign capitals return to India.
