Operation Sindoor: Opposition unconvinced on ceasefire decision; demands special parliament session

With the news of ceasefire between India and Pakistan emanating from US President Donald Trump, the Opposition parties have started mounting pressure on the BJP-led NDA government to call a special session of the parliament and an all-party meeting to discuss issues since Pahalgam attack.

 

The Opposition parties, which had earlier lent their full support for the military action against Pakistan and lauded the Operation Sindoor have began to question the manner in which ceasefire was announced by the US and US president Donald Trump offered to mediate on the issue of Kashmir.

 

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and LoP Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking to call the special session of parliament and an all-party meeting to discuss the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor and subsequent announcement of ceasefire. 

 

Congress leader Sachin Pilot reiterated the demand for a special session. He reminded the similar pressures during the 1971 war when the then US government had threatened to send its seventh fleet, despite that then PM went ahead with what was in national interest.

 

“Now that ceasefire was announced by the US President, and then it was violated by Pakistan too. There were statements on Kashmir issue too. The government should present its views as effort has been made to internationalise the issue. We urge the government to call a special session of the parliament and again adopt the resolution of 1994 that no third party involvement will be accepted in a bilateral matter.”

 

Similar demands were made by Shiv Sena (UT) and AAP leaders. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh demanded that special session of the parliament be called to discuss the issue when Indian armed forces were so close for a decisive action against Pakistan that ceasefire was announced by USA. “There are questions in the minds of people that India’s sovereignty has been been questioned.”

 

The government has so far let the officers react to the situation. There have been indications that ceasefire was not final and India was keeping strict watch on the situation and any misdemeanour by Pakistan will be dealt with strictly.

 

The BJP leaders’ claim on the Operation Sindoor has been that the country has responded resolutely to Pahalgam attack. Terror targets were hit deep inside the Pakistan territory and seven of their air bases were destroyed. Despite announcement on ceasefire the status quo has been maintained on Indus Water Treaty as India has repealed it. 

 

“The world has accepted India's new war doctrine - Any act of terror by a non-state actor will be viewed as an act of war by India and will attract full retaliation,” BJP spokesperson RP Singh wrote on X.

India