Opposition bloc demands PM statement on Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, and Bihar polls.
New Delhi: The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc parties, on Saturday, held a meeting to discuss their strategy for the upcoming Parliament session and unanimously decided to demand a detailed discussion on the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, accompanied by a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The INDIA bloc meeting, conducted virtually, was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal, and Jairam Ramesh.
Samajwadi Party’s Ramgopal Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his party MP Sanjay Raut, National Conference leader and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren of the JMM also joined the meeting.
The meeting was further attended by Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, DMK representatives, and leaders from Left parties.
Lasting over one hour and fifteen minutes, the meeting saw all attending leaders share their suggestions on key issues to be raised during the Monsoon Session.
Speaking to the media post-meeting, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari stated that participants resolved to raise the Pahalgam terror attack issue, highlighting that the attackers remain unidentified and at large.
Tiwari further said that the INDIA bloc will demand a Prime Ministerial statement on Operation Sindoor, particularly since former US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed to have mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
He emphasized that the bloc will insist on the Prime Minister’s presence during discussions on such crucial matters.
It was also decided during the meeting to question the Election Commission on the special intensive revision of voter rolls in Bihar, among several other topics, Tiwari added.
He noted that issues including the Ahmedabad plane crash, delimitation, and rising atrocities against Dalits nationwide would be brought up in Parliament.
Additionally, the bloc expressed concerns over India’s “weakening” foreign policy, indicating it would be a point of parliamentary discussion.
Meanwhile, sources indicated discontent within the CPI over Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks in Kerala, where he appeared to compare the CPM with the RSS.
According to sources, CPI General Secretary D. Raja raised the matter in the meeting, though without directly naming Rahul Gandhi.
Raja reportedly reminded the bloc of its founding slogan “Desh Bachao, BJP Hatao,” emphasizing that no member should make statements that create rifts or draw inappropriate comparisons among allies.
Sources also confirmed that the INDIA bloc is planning a march to Jantar Mantar to protest against the voter list revision in Bihar, likely to be held on July 23 or 24. The plan is currently being finalized.
The source added that the recent exit of the Aam Aadmi Party from the INDIA bloc has not affected the alliance’s cohesion, as evidenced by the participation of all 24 member-parties in Saturday’s meeting and their unified commitment to raising these issues in Parliament.
