KARACHI: India’s opposition leaders have reacted strongly to US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a truce between India and Pakistan, raising concerns about the Indian government’s diplomatic approach, strategy, and the role of a foreign leader in drawing the curtain on the conflict.
Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Indian National Congress and the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, spearheaded the campaign by demanding an urgent special session of the parliament.
Gandhi, in his letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, mentioned the Trump-announced truce, Operation Sindoor, and the recent Pahalgam terror incident as issues that require immediate action. Highlighting the importance of accountability and legislative debate, Gandhi said: “This will also be an opportunity to demonstrate our collective resolve to meet the challenges ahead.”
The Indian National Congress reiterated this call in a social media post citing his letter: “Rahul Gandhi writes to PM Modi, reiterating the unanimous request of the Opposition to convene a special session of parliament immediately to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and the India-Pakistan ceasefire, first announced by US President Trump.”
Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Congress and the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, also shared a similar letter on social media, highlighting the party’s unity.
Trump’s post was also viewed as a “surprise” by Congressman Sachin Pilot, who described it as “an attempt to internationalise the Kashmir issue.”
Outside the Congress, reactions varied somewhat. Aam Aadmi Party’s Chief National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar expressed outrage over what she termed a loss of sovereignty: “140 crore Indians were with the PM in this war between humanity and terrorism, but now we all feel cheated that how a foreign power put a full stop on our internal matter… The PM should address the nation and explain why a foreign power did this, supersede the Indian government, and can we trust Pakistan after such a ceasefire?” she wrote on X.
While many opposition leaders were critical, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, welcomed the ceasefire. Expressing cautious optimism, Stalin paid tribute to India’s armed forces and said the ceasefire was a step towards peace.
Congress MP and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor did appreciate the ceasefire but added: “We need to have more details, but I am very glad. India never wanted a long-term war, but India wanted to teach terrorists a lesson, I believe that lesson has been taught.”
Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha, however, echoed Gandhi’s concerns, stating he felt “unsettled” by the fact that a foreign head of state had been the one to announce the ceasefire. He too called for a special session of parliament to address the implications of the move.
