In the aftermath of the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of at least 26 civilians, the Government of India has scheduled an all-party meeting to brief political leaders and discuss the national security response. The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is set to take place at 6 PM on Thursday at the Parliament Annexe in New Delhi.
Purpose of the All-Party Meeting
The meeting aims to bring together leaders from major political parties to discuss the recent terror attack and deliberate on the national security measures being undertaken. With increasing concerns around terrorism targeting civilians, the government seeks to forge a unified political front.
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Venue: Parliament Annexe, New Delhi
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Time: 6 PM, Thursday
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Chaired by: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
Government’s Engagement with Political Parties
According to sources, both Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah reached out to leaders of major political parties in advance of the meeting. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju was also actively involved in inviting representatives. The meeting, however, is expected to include only one representative per party, and smaller parties were reportedly excluded from the invite list.
Cabinet Committee on Security Meeting
A day before the scheduled all-party meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security. The session, held at his official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, lasted over two and a half hours. During this closed-door briefing:
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Home Minister Amit Shah provided details on the terror attack and updated the PM on ongoing investigations and planned security measures.
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Strategic deliberations were made to bolster internal security and respond to the threat posed by cross-border terrorism.
List of Political Representatives Attending the Meeting
As of now, here is a partial list of confirmed party representatives attending the meeting:
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DMK – Tiruchi Siva
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TMC (Trinamool Congress) – Sudip Bandyopadhyay
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TDP (Telugu Desam Party) – Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu
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Shiv Sena – Shrikant Shinde
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RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) – AD Singh or Manoj Jha
“In light of the recent developments in Jammu & Kashmir and the ongoing national security concerns, Shrikant Shinde will convey Shiv Sena’s firm stand on national unity, security, and unwavering support for every citizen affected by the Pahalgam attack,” says Shiv Sena.
Who Is Not Attending the Meeting?
Despite the significance of the gathering, not all parties are attending:
JDU (Janata Dal United)
The JDU officially declined the invitation, citing their leaders’ engagement in a Prime Ministerial program in Bihar’s Madhubani district.
In a statement, Sanjay Kumar Jha, JDU’s Working President, clarified:
“Whatever decision will be taken in the meeting, JDU will stand with the government and support the country’s interests.”
AIMIM's Objection to Exclusion
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi raised strong objections to being excluded from the meeting. In a tweet, he criticized the government’s decision to restrict invitations based on the number of MPs a party has:
“When I asked why not parties with fewer MPs, @KirenRijiju said the meeting would get ‘too long.’ This is not a party meeting, it’s a national issue. Every MP deserves to be heard.”
Owaisi argued that limiting participation undermines the very idea of an “all-party meeting” and called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure representation of all parties with elected MPs.
Congress Demands PM's Presence at Meeting
The Congress party, while confirming its attendance, expressed its disappointment over Prime Minister Modi’s likely absence. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stated:
“Considering the extreme seriousness of the issue and the mood of the nation, the Indian National Congress expects the PM to chair the All-Party meeting scheduled for 6 PM today and take all political parties into confidence and build a collective resolve.”
Earlier in the day, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) convened to discuss the Pahalgam attack in detail. Key figures present at the meeting included:
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Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, Congress Parliamentary Party
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Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha
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Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress MP
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Jairam Ramesh, General Secretary
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Other senior Congress leaders
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Details of the Pahalgam Terror Attack
The attack occurred near Baisaran meadow in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, a popular tourist area near Pahalgam. Key details include:
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Casualties: At least 26 civilians were killed, and all of the casualties were male. The victims included one Nepalese and one Pulwama resident. Maharashtra had the highest death toll, with six, followed by Gujarat and Karnataka, which each lost three individuals. West Bengal lost two. One fatality was recorded in Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Kerala, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh.
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Injured: 17 people sustained injuries
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Suspects:
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Asif Fauji alias Moosa
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Suleman Shah alias Yunus
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Abu Talha alias Asif
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These individuals are believed to have been involved in previous terror activities, including incidents in the Poonch region. Intelligence sources suspect that two of them might be foreign nationals, possibly from Pakistan. The sketches of the attackers have been prepared based on survivors' accounts and are being circulated by security agencies.
The Pahalgam terror attack has once again underscored the persistent threat of terrorism in the region and its devastating impact on civilian lives. As the Centre engages political stakeholders through the all-party meeting, the nation watches closely for a united and decisive response to this tragedy. While calls for greater inclusivity in such meetings grow louder, the government's next steps in both security and political consensus-building will be crucial in the days ahead.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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