Cong seeks PM-chaired all-party meet on India-Pak ceasefire, questions US 'role'

New Delhi, May 10 (PTI) With India and Pakistan agreeing to an immediate ceasefire, the Congress on Saturday sought a Prime Minister Narendra Modi-chaired all-party meeting to take political parties into confidence, while its leaders recalled former prime minister Indira Gandhi's strong leadership during the 1971 war.

The opposition party demanded that the government call a special session of Parliament and raised questions over the US's role in the ceasefire.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X, "In view of the unprecedented announcements from Washington DC, there is now a need, more than ever before, for -- the prime minister to chair an all-party meeting and take political parties into confidence." There is also now a need, more than ever before, for a special session of Parliament to discuss the events of the last 18 days, beginning with the brutal Pahalgam terror attack and the way forward, and to demonstrate a collective resolve, he said.

The Congress, meanwhile, quoted Indira Gandhi's remarks to then-US president Richard Nixon, telling him that the time had passed when any nation sitting thousands of miles away could give orders to Indians on the basis of colour superiority to do as they wished.

Ramesh said in another post, "This is prime minister Indira Gandhi's historic letter to president Nixon of December 12, 1971. Four days later Pakistan surrendered. She ensured that there was no 'neutral site' which has now been agreed to." Congress general secretary in-charge organisation KC Venugopal also quoted Indira Gandhi in a post on X.

"'Being a developing country, we have our backbone straight, enough will and resources to fight all atrocities. Times have passed when any nation sitting 3-4 thousand miles away could give orders to Indians,'" he said, quoting her remarks to Nixon. "India terribly misses Indira Gandhi ji today." The Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera, meanwhile, shared on X photographs of Indira Gandhi with armed forces personnel during various points in time and said, "India misses Indira." Speaking to reporters, Khera said, "We got to know from a tweet by US President Donald Trump, and that's how the country got to know about the ceasefire. We now repeat our demand that there should be an all-party meeting. There should be a special session of Parliament." "The country needs to know what have we gained, what have we lost and whether justice has been delivered to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. Also, the country misses Indira Gandhi today," he said.

On the sidelines of an event, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, "I think peace is essential, 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." Congress MP Manish Tewari said the US was making no bones about its role and it "is rubbing it in".

Sharing US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement on the issue, Tewari said, "It is also interesting that in the statement below the ceasefire is hyphenated with talks at a Neutral venue on a broad set of issues. Call it by whatever name you want; this is third party mediation." Sharing a photograph of Indira Gandhi with personnel of the armed forces, the Congress said in an earlier post, "Indira Gandhi … COURAGE | CONVICTION | STRENGTH." It also quoted her remarks to Nixon to emphasise how she stood up for India.

The party's Kerala unit said, "Remember the name -- Indira Gandhi." Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed said, "Under the leadership of former Prime Minister Smt Indira Gandhi ji, Pakistan was split into two despite a direct threat from the United States. The nation truly misses her decisive leadership today!" Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot shared a picture of Indira Gandhi standing at an army post with Indian Army personnel and said, "Indira ji, today the whole country is remembering you..." Social media handles of the Congress' various state units also shared Indira Gandhi's photographs and recalled her leadership.

India and Pakistan have reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect after four days of cross-border strikes that triggered fears of a wider conflict.

In a short announcement, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the directors general of military operations of the two countries agreed on the understanding during a call this afternoon.

The decision by India and Pakistan was first made public by Trump in a social media post while claiming that the talks between the two sides were mediated by the US.

In a statement, US Secretary of State Rubio said he was "pleased to announce the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site".

The government, however, clearly stated that there was no decision to hold talks on any other issue at any other place. PTI