16 Opposition parties unite to demand special Parliament session in letter to PM Modi; AAP skips meeting

Sixteen opposition parties under the INDIA bloc have jointly written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss recent developments related to national security. The key issues cited include the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian armed forces’ response through Operation Sindoor, and the announcement of a US-backed ceasefire. The demand was formalized during a meeting of INDIA alliance leaders held in New Delhi on Tuesday.

While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) did not attend the meeting or sign the joint letter, it confirmed that it will send a separate letter to the Prime Minister with the same demand. This brings the total number of parties requesting the special session to seventeen. The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) has not joined the demand for the session.

The joint letter has been signed by senior leaders of sixteen parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (CPI), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Kerala Congress, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), and CPI (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation.

The letter specifically requests that the special session cover the full details of the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent military response under Operation Sindoor. It also seeks to discuss the recent ceasefire announcement by the United States and India’s diplomatic efforts abroad relating to counter-terrorism. Additionally, the opposition parties want a comprehensive discussion on future strategies to combat terrorism.

Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda was quoted as saying, “We stood with the armed forces during the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. But now, when the government is making its case globally, Parliament too must be taken into confidence.” TMC MP Derek O’Brien stated, “Parliament is accountable to the people. The government is accountable to Parliament. That’s why a special session is necessary.” The opposition has proposed that the session be convened in June after multi-party delegations return from overseas visits connected to India’s anti-terror campaign.