Kapil Sibal Calls for Special Parliament Session and All-Party Meeting After India-Pakistan Agreement
New Delhi, May 11 – Following the agreement between India and Pakistan to halt military actions, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has called for a special session of Parliament and an all-party meeting. He urged political parties to refrain from attending the meeting unless the government ensures the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.In a press conference held on Sunday, Sibal emphasized the importance of Prime Minister Modi's attendance at the all-party meeting, contrasting the current situation with the leadership style of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Sibal expressed confidence that if Singh had been in office, he would have attended the all-party meeting and called for a special session of Parliament.
Sibal's remarks were triggered by the recent halt in military activities between India and Pakistan, following four days of intense cross-border missile and drone strikes. He pointed out the need for clarity on the behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts, including US President Donald Trump’s recent tweet, where he praised the US for facilitating the "historic and heroic" decision to cease hostilities. However, Sibal criticized the lack of information provided to the Indian public regarding the details of the negotiations, including talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's conversation with India's National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval.
While he refrained from direct criticism of the government's actions at this moment, Sibal stressed the urgency of convening a special session of Parliament to address the events of the past few days. He further appealed to all political parties not to attend the meeting unless the government guarantees that Prime Minister Modi will participate.
Sibal also reflected on past instances, particularly when Prime Minister Modi did not attend an all-party meeting following the Pahalgam terror attack, implying that the current government's priorities might not align with national security concerns. He questioned Modi's actions during critical times, mentioning the Prime Minister's attendance at events like the Bihar elections and Bollywood-related functions while skipping meetings after significant incidents.
Despite his critical stance, Sibal praised the Indian armed forces for their strong response to Pakistan's actions, stating that the country, united in its resolve, had made it clear that "enough is enough" and had taken the necessary steps to respond to Pakistan's provocations.
Sibal's comments came after India and Pakistan agreed to cease military actions on land, air, and sea, following four days of escalated tensions between the two nations.
