Oppn looks to corner govt in Parl over Pahalgam, US claims, SIR

Twenty-four parties of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance bloc on Saturday decided to mount a coordinated attack against the Narendra Modi government over the Pahalgam terror attack, foreign policy issues such as the US' claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and the electoral roll update in Bihar during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament.

- Saubhadra Chatterji

The opposition parties, meeting online on Saturday in a show of strength aimed at reviving the fragile bloc, demanded that PM Modi address critical security and diplomatic issues.

“The most important issue is linked with the prestige and security of 140 crore people. In Pahalgam, terrorists have wiped away the sindoor of our sisters, but we don’t know where they have disappeared. There is a major intelligence failure,” Congress Rajya Sabha deputy leader Pramod Tiwari said.

The opposition also targeted the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which began in Bihar but is expected to extend to all states. Tiwari termed this “votebandi,” alleging systematic voter deletion, and declared: “This is the first time there is a threat to the voting rights of the people.” RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's proposal for a big rally against the SIR was accepted by all leaders.