Rahul Gandhi Urges PM to Act After US Announces Ceasefire Initiative

Dubela, Prinona Ghosh: On May 11, 2025, the day after the announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, reportedly facilitated by the United States, opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi (Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha) and Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha) urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to summon a special session of Parliament. The purpose of this session, they stated, would be to hold an open discussion on key issues including the recent Pahalgam terror incident, India’s retaliatory action (Operation Sindoor), and the ceasefire declared — initially by US President Donald Trump.

In a letter to Prime Minister Modi, Rahul Gandhi emphasized the need for transparency, noting that the ceasefire was first disclosed by the US government. Gandhi raised concerns over the fact that Trump’s administration had made the first public announcement, rather than the Indian government. Similarly, Mallikarjun Kharge echoed this sentiment and reminded the Prime Minister of their earlier joint letter, sent on April 28, 2025, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.

The ceasefire announcement was first made by President Trump via social media, followed by confirmations from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. Subsequently, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that both India and Pakistan had agreed to halt all military activity from 5:00 PM IST on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

However, Prime Minister Modi has yet to issue an official public statement on the matter, and India’s response to Trump’s offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue remains uncertain.