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India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Opposition parties seek answers on Op Sindoor, demand Parliament special session
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 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 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 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 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 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 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
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
TMC delegation visits Rajouri, meets shelling victims
A five-member delegation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Friday slammed the Centre for what they said was neglecting border communities in Jammu and Kashmir that bore the brunt of Pakistan shelling from May 7 to 10. The delegation comprised MPs Derek O'Brien, Sagarika Ghose and Mohammad Nadimul Haque, West Bengal minister Manas Bhunia and former parliamentarian Mamata Thakur. On the last day of their three-day visit to border districts of Baramulla, Poonch and Rajouri, they met the injured and their families at government medical college in Rajouri. 'We are returning with broken hearts after witnessing the tragedy caused by shelling. We want to tell them that we, the people of this nation, are standing with them,' Ghose told mediapersons at Rajouri. Post Operation Sindoor, J&K saw Pakistani attacks including intense artillery shelling. A wave of artillery shelling, and missiles and drone strikes, by Pakistan in the Jammu region killed 27 people and injured more than 70. 'The people living in these border areas are the most vulnerable and, sadly, the most neglected. We met Imtiaz Ahmed, who lost his hand. He was the sole breadwinner of his family and now, he would be unable to work or earn a living. He has three children,' Ghose said. 'We also met 12-year-old Ruksana, who suffered severe damage to her leg. She can no longer run or attend school. These are heartbreaking tragedies unfolding in the border regions of Rajouri and Poonch,' she added.
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Why no evacuation': TMC delegation visits shelling-hit Poonch
Ahead of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's scheduled visit to Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch Saturday, a five-member TMC delegation went to Poonch district Thursday after meeting CM Omar Abdullah on Wednesday. Poonch has been the hardest hit by cross-border shelling from Pakistan, accounting for 16 deaths of the total 27 in J&K. The delegation, comprising Rajya Sabha members Derek O'Brien, Sagarika Ghose, Md Nadimul Haque, West Bengal Minister Manas Bhunia, and former MP Mamata Thakur, questioned why people in Poonch and other border areas were not evacuated or moved to bunkers after Operation Sindoor was launched. 'All of us have experienced the pain, suffering, and the loss suffered by families here,' said Ghose. The delegation also visited Rajouri and some other places near the border with Pakistan and expressed solidarity with the families. In Poonch, the TMC leaders met the family of ex-serviceman Amarjeet Singh, who died from shrapnel injuries. The team visited Christ School where 12-year-old twins Urba Fatima and Zain Ali, killed in shelling, studied. The delegation also visited the residence of Rajouri official Raj Kumar Thappa, who died in shelling. 'Why were people in these border areas not evacuated when Operation Sindoor was being launched,' Ghose said. 'We have come on a journey of empathy, sympathy and solidarity, We have come here to tell each and every family that they are not alone.'
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Business Standard
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
TMC delegation visits Rajouri, slams Centre for 'neglecting' border areas
A five-member TMC delegation that visited the cross-border shelling-hit Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday slammed the government for neglecting the families living in border areas. The delegation members said they were returning with "broken hearts" after witnessing the human tragedy caused by Pakistani shelling and expressed solidarity with the people. The region witnessed heightened artillery shelling about two weeks ago following the rise in tensions with Pakistan after India carried out precision strikes on nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam attack. A wave of artillery shelling, and missiles and drone strikes by Pakistan in the Jammu region killed 27 people and injured more than 70 between May 8 and 10 after India launched Operation Sindoor to target terror infrastructure in the neighbouring country and PoK in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack. The TMC delegation -- comprising MPs Derek O'Brien, Sagarika Ghose and Mohd Nadimul Haque, West Bengal minister Manas Bhunia, and former parliamentarian Mamata Thakur -- is on the last day of its three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. The delegation also visited the Government Medical College in Rajouri where they met the injured and were briefed about the measures taken to treat them. Expressing their condolences to the families who lost their kin, Rajya Sabha member Ghose said they came to Rajouri to assure the affected people that the people of West Bengal and India were standing with them. "We are here with a five-member delegation and public representatives from West Bengal. Over the past two days, we have been visiting the border areas. Yesterday, we were in Poonch," she told reporters. She said they visited the hospital to witness firsthand the human cost of recent events. "The people living in these border areas are the most vulnerable and, sadly, the most neglected. We met Imtiaz Ahmed, who lost his hand. He was the sole breadwinner of his family but now he would be unable to work or earn a living. He has three children and is left helpless," she said. Expressing deep sympathies with the families affected, she said, "We also met 12-year-old Ruksana, who suffered severe damage to her leg. She can no longer run or attend school. These are heartbreaking human tragedies unfolding in the border regions of Rajouri and Poonch." Ghose took a dig at the government and alleged local communities in the border areas were being neglected. "Why have they not received better protection? These innocent people are on the frontlines, defenceless against cross-border shelling. Why must they suffer such grave injuries?" she asked. Expressing her sorrow, Ghose said, "Our hearts are broken. We return with deep sorrow after witnessing the suffering endured by the people of this region." National Conference leader and former MLA Aijaz Jan expressed his gratitude to West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee for sending a delegation to Jammu and Kashmir to witness the human tragedy caused by cross-border shelling from Pakistan. "We thank the team members for their visit. They came to Rajouri and Poonch, met the families of the victims and the injured, and expressed solidarity with them," he said.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Aiming to highlight border villages' plight: TMC delegates
A five-member delegation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) met Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar, stressing that their motive was to put a spotlight on the people of border villages who suffered due to Pakistan shelling during the recent India-Pakistan military confrontation. The delegation, comprising TMC leaders Derek O'Brien, Nadimul Haque, Sagarika Ghose, Manas Bhunia and Mamata Thakur, landed in Srinagar on Wednesday evening and later met Omar. 'We have come on a journey of solidarity and empathy. It is the border villages of J&K which have suffered the most due to the shelling from Pakistan. Livelihood has been lost. No one is talking about the suffering of Poonch, Rajouri and villages next to the LoC. We have come to tell these people that we will bring your plight to the notice of people,' Ghose said on Wednesday evening before meeting the CM. After meeting the CM in Srinagar, Ghose said they had a very fruitful exchange of views with the CM. 'Omar briefed us on the suffering of the border villages in Poonch, Uri and Rajouri due to Pakistan shelling . Fifteen people have died in Poonch and more in Uri and Rajouri. In fact, more people have died in these cross-border shelling from Pakistan than have died in Pahalgam. Every life matters,' she said. As many as 25 tourists and a local were killed by terrorists on April 22 in a gruesome attack in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam. On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor striking nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Earlier on their way to Srinagar, the delegation among the 227 passengers on board a Delhi-Srinagar Indigo flight, survived mid-air scare on Wednesday when the aircraft they were travelling in was hit by a hailstorm, damaging its nose. TMC member Sagarika Ghosh termed it a near death experience. Videos showed people screaming and reciting verses from the Quran as the aircraft suffered the turbulence. Passengers narrated a scary experience. 'I was in the plane and am heading back home from was a near death nose of the plane is was panic, and people were screaming. Everyone was scared,' said Owais Maqbool on X.
