Thiruvananthapuram, May 12 — The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala on Monday lashed out at the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi for demanding a special session of Parliament to deliberate on the recent Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, and related India-Pakistan developments.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar questioned Rahul Gandhi’s credibility in raising the demand, alleging that he and his sister Priyanka Gandhi often skip Parliament sessions.
“Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi disappear when the House is in session and crucial legislation is being passed,” Chandrasekhar stated, adding that the decision to convene a special session lies solely with the Union government.
Highlighting the recent escalation between India and Pakistan, Chandrasekhar asserted that India had inflicted the “most severe blow” to Pakistan since Independence. He credited India’s precise retaliatory strikes and the defence sector’s growing strength over the past decade for thwarting Pakistan’s counterattacks.
“India has never desired conflict, but will always respond with strength and resolve against any aggression,” he said.
The BJP's remarks came in response to letters sent by opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha and Mallikarjun Kharge in the Rajya Sabha, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They urged the Prime Minister to convene a special session of both Houses of Parliament to present a unified national stance against terrorism.
The opposition's demand follows the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire understanding on May 10 after the most severe confrontation in decades.
Chandrasekhar’s comments underscore the deepening political divide as national security becomes a focal point of debate in the aftermath of the deadly terror strike.