Citizens demand special session of Parliament on Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor

By A Representative

Over 300 concerned Indian citizens from across the country have written a joint appeal to top constitutional and political authorities, including the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, and key ministers in the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, urging the Government of India to convene a Special Session of Parliament without delay.

The appeal comes in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, India’s military response in the form of Operation Sindoor, and related political and social developments. The citizens have cited eleven substantive grounds to justify the need for an urgent parliamentary session and warned that failure to act would betray the expectations of the Indian people.

The letter underscores that Article 75(3) of the Constitution mandates collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers to the Lok Sabha. It argues that the government is constitutionally bound to place all facts related to the Pahalgam attack and subsequent operations before the Parliament. Citizens noted that while the military has achieved operational success, its narrative must not be manipulated for political gain.

The statement also raises concern over contradictory international claims—such as the American President crediting trade deals for the ceasefire—compared to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs' version.

Further, the signatories highlight the surge in communal violence, collective punishment, suppression of dissent, and irresponsible media coverage following the attack. These developments, they argue, require serious parliamentary debate. The letter questions why, despite public statements by the Prime Minister and military officials, the government is reluctant to face questions in Parliament. It criticizes the reliance on closed-door all-party meetings and calls for open and transparent deliberations under parliamentary scrutiny.

Drawing historical parallels, the appeal recalls that during the 1962 India-China war, a special parliamentary session was held following opposition demand, which was accepted by then Prime Minister Nehru. The citizens point out that the recently elected Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly already held a one-day special session and passed a resolution on the matter—setting an example for the national Parliament to follow.

The letter also stresses the need for accountability in light of civilian and military suffering in border areas, and the government’s obligation to uphold the rights of all citizens, especially dissenters. It reminds the government that convening special sessions is not unprecedented, citing the example of a session held in 2023 for the women’s reservation bill, just weeks after the Monsoon Session had ended.

The appeal critiques the declining number of Parliament sittings in recent years and insists that the Monsoon Session, scheduled from July 21 to August 12, cannot serve as a substitute for a focused, urgent discussion. It warns that such general sessions are already overburdened with a wide range of issues, leaving little time for in-depth debate on extraordinary developments like the Pahalgam attack and its aftermath.

The citizens argue that the government should have proactively convened a special session in June instead of announcing routine dates for the Monsoon Session. They emphasize that this demand stems from a desire to uphold constitutional values, preserve democratic accountability, and ensure the Parliament remains a forum where the government is answerable to the people—especially now that the immediate conflict has ceased.

If the government has legitimate security concerns regarding full public disclosure, the letter suggests it should clearly communicate that position to citizens. However, continued silence or delay in convening a special session would, the signatories contend, amount to a dereliction of democratic responsibility.

The joint appeal concludes with a firm declaration: “We the people of India demand answers and accountability from our government.” The list of 310 signatories has been made publicly available.

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