Opposition parties RJD and CPI on Monday asked the government to call a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack and “its broader implications”.
RJD member , in a letter, called on Prime Minister to take elected representatives into confidence for a transparent dialogue so as to send a “powerful message” of resilience.
Besides the attack, the session should discuss its “broader implications for the security, well-being, and aspirations of the people of India”, Jha wrote.
CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar, meanwhile, wrote to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
The missives by the two parties come amid the Congress’s plans for the Opposition to send a joint letter seeking the special session to discuss the attack and the steps the government plans to take. The joint letter is being drafted by the Congress and the party leadership was learnt to be in consultation with other Opposition leaders over the matter.
The terror attack on April 22 left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead. In his letter, Jha said: “In moments of such profound national pain, it is within the Parliament that the anxieties, hopes and resolve of the people must find their fullest voice.”
“In moments such as these, it is essential that the government takes the nation and its elected representatives into full confidence. Transparent dialogue and open engagement across political lines strengthen the people’s trust in democratic institutions and reinforce the collective resolve needed to overcome adversity. A shared national response, built through consultation and consensus, is the surest path to preserving unity and safeguarding our nation,” he said.
Jha said: “Such a session would send a powerful and reassuring message: that our democracy remains resilient, and that our commitment to every part of our Union, especially those most affected by violence, is unwavering.”
CPI’s Sandosh Kumar said that such a session would allow members across party lines to come together “to mourn the loss, to express the will of the nation and to send a clear and strong message that India remains united, resilient and resolute against those who seek to harm us through acts of terror”.
“Parliament should rise above political divides to embody the spirit and aspirations of the people. At this moment of national mourning, a collective expression of solidarity from the highest forum of democracy would be both timely and necessary,” said Kumar.
