BJP govt yet to convene Parliament session or all-party meeting to explain its handling of the recent military conflict with Pakistan: Chidambaram

P. Chidambaram questions BJP government's silence on military conflict with Pakistan, worries about US influence on India.

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member P. Chidambaram on Sunday said the BJP government at the Centre was neither convening a Parliament session or calling for an all-party meeting to clearly explain the recent handling and ceasefire of military conflict with Pakistan under Operation Sindoor. 

Even two-weeks since the conflict stopped on May 10, why is the Centre not convening a meeting, Mr. Chidambaram wondered and added the “silence” and the “stand” of the government on this issue was “worrying”.  

He was speaking at a public meeting organised by the party at Tiruchi to salute the armed forces for safeguarding our country.  He pointed out that the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had convened a Parliament session when the war with China broke out in 1962. After the end of the 1971 war with Pakistan, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi convened a Parliament session. However, the BJP government was yet to convene a Parliament session even after a fortnight since the conflict stopped, he said.

“While we really feel proud of our armed forces, the military personnel and the scientific community, the government’s stand and silence is worrying us”, Mr. Chidambaram remarked. 

The US President Donald Trump through the social media platform had announced that India and Pakistan had agreed for a ceasefire “before it was confirmed by our government”. Mr. Trump reiterated that he had mediated between India and Pakistan for a ceasefire during his recent visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar despite denial by the government.

“This only leads us to the worrying conclusion that President Trump is running our country”, Mr. Chidambaram said. This also leads to the question whether the policy is being framed in our country or in Washington, Mr. Chidambaram wondered. “Instead of our Prime Minister, Defence Minister or the External Affairs Minister speaking on the cessation of conflict, the US President, Vice President and Foreign Minister are speaking which is worrying,” Mr. Chidambaram added.

He said had Prime Minister Modi announced that he had stopped the military conflict just as how former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had stated in 1971 war “we could have felt proud.”