Opposition leaders from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have jointly urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call a special Parliament session in response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed 26 lives. In a letter sent on Monday evening, Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, appealed to the Prime Minister, emphasizing the need for unity in these challenging times. He stated, “At this critical juncture, when unity and solidarity are paramount, the Opposition believes it is crucial to convene a special session of both Houses of Parliament at the earliest.” Kharge expressed hope that such a session would be convened as a strong symbol of collective determination in the face of the tragic attack.

In a separate letter, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, echoed Kharge’s sentiment, stressing that the terrorist attack in Pahalgam had deeply shocked the nation. He called for a special session of Parliament to demonstrate India's united stance against terrorism, stating, “The Opposition believes that a special session should be held to show our unity and resolve.”

This demand comes after an all-party meeting held by the government on April 24, where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah briefed political leaders about the attack, with input from the Intelligence Bureau and Ministry of Home Affairs. During the meeting, Rajnath Singh assured that the government was committed to taking strong action in response to the attack. While opposition leaders expressed concern about security lapses, they expressed support for the government’s approach, calling for a united response to this brutal attack on civilians. However, Kharge criticized Prime Minister Modi for his absence from the meeting, stating at a rally in Rajasthan, “Modi prioritized a Bihar election rally over the country. At least he should have attended the meeting where we extended our full support for the government’s actions.”

The April 22 attack in Pahalgam, where terrorists targeted tourists at Baisaran meadow in Anantnag district, resulted in 26 deaths and multiple injuries. In retaliation, India took several measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, downgrading diplomatic ties, and closing the Attari land crossing. The government also revoked SAARC visa exemptions, canceled Pakistani visas, and ordered Pakistani nationals to leave within 48 hours. Additionally, access to Pakistan's official Twitter account was blocked, and on April 28, the government restricted access to over 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including Dawn News and Geo News.