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Time of India
04-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Govt running away from special session: TMC's Derek O'Brien
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien on Wednesday accused the government of "running away" from holding a special session of Parliament on Operation Sindoor that opposition parties have been demanding. His remarks came as the government announced that the Monsoon Session of Parliament would be held from July 21 to August 12. "All important matters" can be discussed in the session, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said, adding that every session was a "special session". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Linda Kozlowski, 67, Shows Off Her Perfect Figure In A New Photo Today's NYC Undo In a post on X, Rajya Sabha MP O'Brien said, " Parliamentophobia (noun) - My word for the acute condition of a (Modi) government who have a morbid fear of facing Parliament. Running away from a special session," he said. Speaking to reporters later, he said the government's announcement came a day after opposition parties wrote a joint letter demanding a special session of Parliament. Live Events "TMC has studied the past announcements, and usually, the session is announced around 20 days ahead of the date of commencement. This time, they announced it 45 days ahead. So scared!" O'Brien said, referring to the Monsoon Session announcement. "If they can announce the Monsoon Session, why not a special session in June," he questioned. INDIA bloc parties on Tuesday rallied together to push for a special session to discuss all developments related to the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor -- India's military response to the attack. Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed in the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. India and Pakistan were locked in a four-day military conflict in May, with the Indian armed forces destroying terror camps deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and bombing their airbases. Lawmakers from 16 opposition parties wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, seeking a special session on the matter, saying there were "serious questions facing the nation". Congress, TMC, SP, DMK, Shiv Sena ( UBT ), RJD, J&K National Conference, CPI(M), IUML, CPI, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), JMM, Kerala Congress, MDMK, CPI(ML) Liberation signed the joint letter, while Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is expected to send a separate letter raising the same demand. While NCP (SP) is not among the signatories, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said he will talk to party leaders on the issue.
India Today
04-06-2025
- General
- India Today
Parliamentophobia: Derek O'Brien says government dodging Op Sindoor debate
After the dates for the Monsoon Session of Parliament were announced, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien on Wednesday claimed that the Narendra Modi government is suffering from "Parliamentophobia."In an apparent dig at the Centre, O'Brien was referring to the Opposition's repeated calls to hold a joint session of both houses to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation the Centre overlooked repeated calls from the Opposition to convene a joint sitting of both Houses, O'Brien took to X and wrote, "Parliamentophobia (noun). My word for the acute condition of a (Modi) government who have a morbid fear of facing Parliament. Running away from a Special Session." A few days back, Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge also reiterated the Opposition's demand for a joint parliamentary session over Operation Sindoor and wrote on X: "We, the leaders of INDIA, reiterate our collective and urgent request to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the developments following the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025."Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju today announced that the Monsoon Session will be held between July 21 and August the growing clamour for holding a joint parliamentary session in the wake of India's Operation Sindoor, Rijiju said, "Every session is a special session for us." He further stated that "all important matters" will be discussed in the upcoming Monsoon sources revealed to India Today TV that the Centre is willing to take up discussions on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack, provided the debates are held in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Watch
Scroll.in
04-06-2025
- General
- Scroll.in
Monsoon Session of Parliament to be held from July 21 to August 12
The Monsoon Session of Parliament will start on July 21 and conclude on August 12, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday. The announcement comes amid the Opposition's demand for a special session of Parliament at the earliest to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and its aftermath. #WATCH | Delhi | The government has decided to convene the Monsoon Session of the Parliament from 21st July till 12th August, says Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. — ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2025 On Tuesday, leaders from 16 Opposition parties wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi putting forward the demand. The letter said: 'There are serious questions facing the nation about the terror attack, killing of civilians in Poonch, Uri and Rajouri, the ceasefire announcements and the implications on our national security and foreign policy.' Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien told the media: 'The government is responsible to the Parliament; Parliament is responsible to the people. That's why we are demanding a special session of the Parliament.' On Wednesday, O'Brien reacted to the announcement of the Monsoon session saying: 'Parliamentophobia (noun) My word for the acute condition of a (Modi) government who have a morbid fear of facing Parliament. Running away from a Special Session.' Parliamentophobia (noun) My word for the acute condition of a (Modi) government who have a morbid fear of facing Parliament. Running away from a Special Session — Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) June 4, 2025 Besides a discussion on Operation Sindoor, the session is likely to see an impeachment motion against former Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma being moved, after unaccounted cash was allegedly found at his home in March. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told ANI that Parliament as a whole will have to discuss the matter and move forward. 'So, I am building consensus amongst all political parties and I have started discussion with prominent leaders and I will reach out to everybody,' he said. Rijiju was further quoted as saying by ANI: 'The impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma is a matter related to the corruption in the judiciary. So, there is no scope for any politicking.'
Hans India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
16 Oppn parties urge PM for special session of Parl
New Delhi: In a rare show of unity, 16 opposition parties have come together to demand a special session of Parliament, citing the need for a free and fair discussion on national security issues and foreign policy developments after Operation Sindoor. A joint letter has been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscoring the opposition's collective voice and sense of urgency. Addressing the media, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien highlighted that the initiative was not taken merely at the parliamentary party level but was a consensus among the heads of 16 political parties. These include the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), DMK, Shiv Sena (UBT), Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (J&K NC), CPI(M), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), CPI, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Kerala Congress, MDMK, and CPI(ML). "A free and fair discussion in Parliament is the foundation of a vibrant democracy," said O'Brien. "The government is responsible to Parliament, and Parliament is responsible to the people." He also noted that while the DMK could not attend due to the 100th birth anniversary of the late M Karunanidhi in Tamil Nadu, the party remains fully committed to the initiative. Additionally, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is expected to write separately to the Prime Minister supporting the demand. Congress MP Deepender Hooda explained that the opposition's call for a special session was intensified after the recent ceasefire announcement by the United States in a conflict region. "We want to thank our armed forces in Parliament and discuss what measures are being taken to isolate Pakistan and how we plan to move forward," he said. Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, echoed the sentiment of unity, stating, "We can only go to our Prime Minister. We believe that when the country was facing a threat, we stood together. We hope the PM listens to us and the government doesn't politicise this."
The Print
03-06-2025
- General
- The Print
Even as INDIA bloc pushes for Parliament session on Pahalgam & Op Sindoor, fault lines evident
'The government is accountable to the Parliament, which is accountable to the people of India,' Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek O'Brien said to reporters after the meeting, adding that the decision to send the letter was taken by the heads of the opposition parties. Leaders from five INDIA bloc parties, the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT) met at the Constitution Club of India Tuesday to finalise the draft of a joint letter being sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising the demand. New Delhi: At a time when voices from within are raising existential questions about the fate of the INDIA bloc, 16 members of the opposition alliance have joined hands to demand a special session of Parliament on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Congress's Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda and party General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh represented the Congress in the meeting—the first such Opposition huddle after Operation Sindoor—which was also attended by Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena (UBT), RJD's Manoj Jha and Prof Ram Gopal Yadav of the SP. The other parties which are signatories to the letter include both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs of the CPI, CPM, CPIML, RSP, DMK, National Conference, IUML, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Kerala Congress, VCK, and MDMK. Speaking to ThePrint on condition of anonimity, a senior Congress functionary said that Rahul Gandhi spoke to SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Abhishek Banerjee, DMK's T.R. Balu and Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Aaditya Thackeray to get them on board with the idea of a joint letter. 'Initially, both LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and LoP Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to the PM separately. But Rahul wanted the INDIA to coordinate on this matter. So, he called the leaders of some INDIA partners. Subsequently, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal, Lok Sabha Deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi, Chief Ehip K. Suresh and whips Manickam Tagore and Mohammad Jawed reached out to the parties,' the leader said. However, even as the leaders met, the fault lines within the coalition were all too evident. For instance, the AAP stayed away from the meeting and is writing to the Centre separately seeking a special session of Parliament. Leaders who attended the meeting said that the AAP conveyed its unwillingness to share a platform with the Congress. The Left parties, which are signatories to the letter, were also not invited to the meeting that lasted around 40 minutes. The NCP (SP) also did not attend Tuesday's meeting, with Sharad Pawar having previously announced that he was not in favour of holding any discussion on Operation Sindoor on an open forum. Speaking at the launch of Congress leader Salman Khurshid's book last month, former Home Minister P. Chidambaram had said, 'I am not sure if the INDIA alliance is intact. If it's intact, I am very happy. It can be put together. There's still time.' CPI general secretary D. Raja said to reporters that he was not aware of the meeting, but his party has been raising the demand for a special session. The Left parties were excluded from Tuesday's meeting at the insistence of the TMC, which shifted its stance on the special session following political attacks by PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on West Bengal's ruling party. While the Congress had been demanding a special session of the Parliament since the 22 April Pahalgam attack, the TMC, which sends the third-largest contingent to the Lok Sabha from the Opposition, had initially not joined the principal opposition party in amplifying the demand. TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee is among the members of the seven multi-party delegations sent to various world capitals to convey India's position on cross-border terrorism following Operation Sindoor. According to TMC sources, the party felt that at a time Banerjee was conveying New Delhi's position very effectively, Shah's remarks that Mamata Banerjee 'opposed' Operation Sindoor were 'unwarranted'. SP's Ram Gopal Yadav said if the government could send the multi-party delegations, there is no reason for it to not convene a special session of the Parliament. In remarks along similar lines, Raut said, 'if you could announce a ceasefire based on US President Donald Trump's intervention, you should also accept the Opposition's demand to call a special session of the House.' While at the press conference, Jha said, 'Donald Trump has said 13 times in the past fortnight that he brokered the truce. As a community, as a nation, we are hurt. Who will convey that message? It is the Parliament. If the Parliament is called, we will speak in one voice…The matter is of accountability. The government is accountable to the Parliament.' (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: Congress says Modi govt 'misled' nation on Op Sindoor losses, demands Kargil-like review
