Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, May 11: In a pointed response to US President Donald Trump's announcement of a pause in hostilities between India and Pakistan, the Congress party on Saturday called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately convene an all-party meeting and a special session of Parliament to address the recent developments and chart a united course for the future.

The demand was underscored by a nostalgic reference to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assertive handling of foreign pressure during the 1971 war. Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh evoked her leadership by sharing a letter she had written to then US President Richard Nixon on December 12, 1971—just days before Pakistan’s surrender in the Bangladesh Liberation War. “There was no neutral venue then, unlike now,” Ramesh remarked, in an implicit criticism of India agreeing to a ceasefire on terms announced by Washington.

Echoing this sentiment, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera called it “unprecedented” that India had to learn about the pause in military tensions from the US president rather than from Indian authorities. “It raises serious questions about our sovereignty in decision-making,” he said.

Ramesh added that the recent spate of incidents, including the Pahalgam terror attacks, and the way the situation has unfolded over the past 18 days, warranted a detailed discussion involving all political parties. “There is now a pressing need for the Prime Minister to brief the nation and demonstrate a collective resolve in facing external threats,” he said.

Khera emphasized that the implications of the Trump-mediated announcement must be debated transparently. “Only a special session of Parliament and an all-party meeting can allow these pressing concerns to be aired and addressed,” he asserted.