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New Delhi: Sixteen opposition parties of the INDIA alliance came together on Tuesday (June 3) to pen a joint letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a special session of parliament to discuss the developments following the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, the military conflict with Pakistan and subsequent events.

The letter comes amid calls for a special session of parliament to be convened after the multi-party delegations, sent abroad as part of the government’s diplomatic outreach, return to the country. While 16 parties have come on board, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is expected to write a separate letter and the NCP (SP) has distanced itself from the demand.

The Wire has learnt that the letter refers to “serious questions” facing the nation about the attack, conflict, killing of civilians in Poonch, Uri, Rajouri and the ceasefire announcement, and the “implications on our national security and foreign policy”. The letter also highlights that the opposition has supported the government’s efforts to engage with the international community on India’s position and that the government has “briefed foreign nations and the media but not the parliament”.

The Wire had reported last week that the opposition members of the INDIA bloc are working on making a concerted demand for a special session of parliament.

Sources in the Congress said that after the two letters sent by both LoPs, Gandhi wanted the letter to the prime minister to be sent in coordination with all other opposition parties, and not by the Congress alone.

“[Gandhi] reached out to Akhilesh Yadav, Abhishek Banerjee and Aditya Thackeray. Other top leaders including K.C. Venugopal and deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi followed up with some parties while Lok Sabha chief whips K. Suresh and Manickam Tagore reached out to others,” said a senior Congress........

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