New Delhi: The Indian National Congress has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a special session of Parliament in light of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which claimed 26 civilian lives.
In a letter sent on Monday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized that holding a special session of both Houses would send a strong, unified message against terrorism and reflect the nation’s collective determination to tackle such threats.
Highlighting the importance of unity, Kharge wrote, “At this critical moment, unity and solidarity are paramount. The Opposition firmly believes that a special session must be called promptly to demonstrate our shared resolve in addressing the brutal Pahalgam attack on innocent citizens on April 22, 2025. We sincerely hope the session will be convened accordingly.”
The call for a special session comes amid heightened national focus on security and counterterrorism efforts. Earlier the same day, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly convened a special sitting to formally condemn the Pahalgam attack.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary introduced a resolution at the session’s outset, following opening remarks by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather. The assembly unanimously adopted the resolution, which condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families, also endorsing diplomatic actions taken by the Union Government after the Cabinet Committee on Security’s recent meeting. The assembly was adjourned sine die after passing the resolution.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah clarified that while he would continue to advocate for restoring statehood to the region, he would not politicize the deaths of the 26 victims to advance that demand, stating that his “politics is not so cheap.”
The Pahalgam assault stands among the most severe terrorist attacks in Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama attack, which killed 40 CRPF personnel. Following the Pahalgam tragedy, India has initiated stringent diplomatic measures against Pakistan for its alleged backing of cross-border terrorism.