Opposition parties seek answers on Op Sindoor, demand Parliament special session

India Today

28-05-2025

The demand for a special session of Parliament to discuss Operation Sindoor and other pressing national security concerns is gaining momentum. At least 12 Opposition parties are now working in coordination to mount pressure on the BJP-led NDA government, calling for an urgent debate in the House.Sources told India Today that the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party (SP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiv Sena (UBT), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), National Conference, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), CPI-ML, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and AIMIM are among the parties backing the demand for a special session. They want the discussion to focus on the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, ongoing ceasefire issues, and increased shelling along the LoC.advertisementIndependent MP Kapil Sibal was the first to call for a special session, having raised the issue publicly on April 25. Subsequently, Congress, Trinamool Congress, and AAP joined in, escalating the collective demand.
This marks the first time since the Waqf Amendment Bill that such a broad coalition of Opposition parties is united in demanding accountability from the Centre.Key issues the Opposition wants to be addressed include:The Pahalgam terror attackOperation Sindoor and its aftermathShelling and artillery fire on civilian infrastructure in Poonch, Rajouri, Uri, and KupwaraThe broader ceasefire situation and national securitySpeaking to India Today, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien said, "We, the parties fighting the BJP, are working together and moving ahead with the demand for a special Parliament session."Both Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively, have formally written to the government, pushing for the special session.CAN'T WAIT FOR MONSOON SESSION: TMCadvertisementThe Trinamool Congress is now leading the charge, urging the government to hold the session before the Monsoon Session.'TMC extended full support to the Centre on Operation Sindoor. We even sent our national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee as part of the multi-party delegation,' said Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose. 'India stood united, but now we support Kapil Sibal's demand. The session must be held in June—we can't wait for the Monsoon Session.'Ghose and fellow MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar asserted that the government must answer key questions in Parliament and take the Opposition into confidence. 'Let the government face the House and condemn Pakistan-backed terrorism officially,' Ghose said. She has also raised questions about a possible intelligence failure in Pahalgam.OPPOSITION TRAINS GUNS ON PMOpposition leaders have begun pushing back against recent speeches by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the BJP of politicising the sacrifices of security personnel.'The BJP's attempt to politicise the supreme sacrifice of our soldiers is unacceptable,' said Kakoli Dastidar, targeting the PM for blaming the Congress for historical missteps during the Partition era.AAP MP Sanjay Singh also hit out, saying, 'If the Congress blundered during Partition, PM Modi repeated the same by declaring a ceasefire instead of letting the Indian Army act decisively—like in 1971 with Bangladesh.'He further added sarcastically, 'Not sure if Sindoor runs in PM Modi's veins, but he's clearly launched Operation Vote Bank.'Must Watch