INDIA bloc to meet on Special Session of Parliament

Leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance will be meeting in the capital on Tuesday (June 3, 2025) to present a united front and press for a Special Session of Parliament to “discuss the developments following the terror attack in Pahalgam”.  | Photo Credit: PTI

Leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance will be meeting in the capital on Tuesday (June 3, 2025) to present a united front and press for a Special Session of Parliament to “discuss the developments following the terror attack in Pahalgam”. 

The Opposition has been in talks to write a joint appeal demanding a Special Session, arguing that it has stood by the government and supported its efforts in engaging with the international community on India’s position. Seven multi-party delegations are on a tour across the world with the aim to refocus the narrative on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. 

The Opposition wants the Parliament session to be organised after the delegations return over the next week. They are arguing for a “full and frank debate”, saying in wake of similar conflicts, the Parliament had debated the issue. “There are serious questions facing the nation about the terror attack, conflict, killing of civilians in Poonch, Uri and Rajouri, the ceasefire announcements, and the implications on our national security and foreign policy,” a top Opposition leader said.

He further pointed that while the foreign nations and their media have been briefed, the Indian Parliament has not been. 

As per sources, the Opposition was undecided on whether to pen a joint letter or to get every Opposition MP to send a separate plea. A decision on such minutiae will be taken in Tuesday’s meeting. 

As per sources, however, there could be more than a few absentees. No representative from the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) is likely to attend the meeting. Its leader Sharad Pawar had earlier said that a Special Session might not be appropriate. “I am not against calling a Special Session of Parliament... but this is a sensitive and serious issue and discussing such a serious issue is not possible in Parliament... In such a situation, it is necessary to keep the information confidential for national interest,” he said.  Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had chaired an all-party meeting on May 8. 

On Monday, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj K. Jha wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi making the same demand. Elaborating the reasons for the need to have a Special Session, Mr. Jha in his letter citing alleged “interference of foreign governments in our sovereign foreign policy.” He pointed out, “The United States President Donald Trump has claimed credit for brokering peace between India and Pakistan no less than 12 times since operations began.” It is crucial, Mr. Jha said, that the government explained who the U.S. government reached out to and what stand or perspective did India articulate in these discussions.

“When foreign leaders claim credit for resolving India’s security challenges, our country’s global standing takes a beating, Mr. Jha said. He added, “The American intervention has hyphenated India and Pakistan once again. What began as India’s legitimate counterterrorism response has become another chapter in President Trump’s self proclaimed role as global peacemaker.” 

Published - June 02, 2025 09:10 pm IST