Congress demands special Parliament session on Op Sindoor and ceasefire

The Congress party on Sunday demanded a special session of Parliament and an all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire, the Pahalgam terror attack, and Operation Sindoor. The party raised pointed questions about the government’s strategy and the role of foreign actors in the process.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the ceasefire announcement, first made in Washington DC and later confirmed by both India and Pakistan, must be scrutinised in Parliament. He also sought clarity on whether the government had opened diplomatic backchannels or agreed to third-party mediation, which would be a departure from India's long-standing position under the Simla Agreement.

A major concern for the party stemmed from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s reference to a “neutral site” for upcoming India-Pakistan talks. Ramesh questioned if this implies the erosion of bilateralism in India’s approach to Pakistan, and asked the government to disclose what commitments have been sought or made.

The Congress also cited the reactions of two former Army chiefs, V P Malik and Manoj Naravane, who reportedly expressed reservations about the nature of the understanding with Pakistan. Ramesh said the nation deserves answers from the Prime Minister himself, not just bureaucratic clarifications.

Drawing historical parallels, Ramesh praised former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s leadership during times of international pressure, recalling her firmness during the 1971 war and her management of global institutions like the IMF. He suggested the current situation demands a similar level of transparency and decisiveness.