Congress Demands All-Party Meet, Parliament Session on Pahalgam Incident and Indo-Pak Ceasefire

Jairam Ramesh Questions Government Over Ceasefire, Operation Sindoor, and US Mediation Remarks​

New Delhi, May 11 – The Congress party on Sunday called for an all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the convening of a special session of Parliament to discuss the recent Pahalgam incident, Operation Sindoor, and the ceasefire understanding reached between India and Pakistan.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh raised pointed questions regarding the government's strategy and transparency, particularly in light of the ceasefire announcements made after four days of cross-border drone and missile attacks.

In a post on X, Ramesh stated,

“The Indian National Congress reiterates its demand for an all-party meet chaired by the PM and for a special session of Parliament for a full discussion on Pahalgam, Operation Sindoor, and the ceasefire announcements made from Washington DC first and then subsequently by the Governments of India and Pakistan.”

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Concerns Over Third-Party Mediation​

Ramesh expressed alarm over a statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who mentioned that India and Pakistan had agreed to a ceasefire and to initiate talks at a "neutral site."

He questioned whether this indicated a departure from the Simla Agreement and signalled a shift towards third-party mediation.

“Have we abandoned the Simla Agreement? Have we opened the doors to third-party mediation?” he asked, adding that Congress would like to know if diplomatic channels with Pakistan have been reopened and what commitments have been secured.

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Government Clarifies No Broader Talks Scheduled​

In response to speculation, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting clarified that there was no decision to hold talks on any other issues or at any other location apart from the ceasefire agreement.

Former Army Chiefs' Remarks Add Weight​

Ramesh also referenced the reported comments of two former army chiefs, V P Malik and Manoj Naravane, saying their perspectives underscore the need for the Prime Minister to provide direct answers on the developments.

Evoking Indira Gandhi's Legacy​

Linking the current situation to historical leadership, Ramesh invoked Indira Gandhi, highlighting her decisive leadership during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

He cited an example from 1981 when Indira Gandhi persuaded the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to approve a USD 5.8 billion loan for India despite US objections. Ramesh said this decision was vindicated when the loan was later concluded successfully under Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in 1984, with India not even drawing a significant portion of the approved funds.

“This is perhaps unique in the annals of IMF’s history,” Ramesh added, underscoring India’s historical assertion of sovereignty in both economic and strategic matters.

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The Congress has firmly positioned itself as seeking accountability and clarity from the highest level of government, as tensions and diplomacy between India and Pakistan draw global attention.