New Delhi — As the nation reflects on the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s bold response through Operation Sindoor, the Congress party announced a new nationwide initiative titled ‘Jai Hind Sabhas’, scheduled between May 20 and May 30, to salute the Indian Armed Forces while raising critical questions on national security governance.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal made the announcement on Thursday via social media platform X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing a dual focus: honouring the military and demanding transparency and accountability from the Modi government.
“Indian National Congress will hold ‘Jai Hind Sabhas’ across India to salute the supreme valour and success of our Armed Forces. We also must raise serious questions on security lapses, the Government’s handling of national security, and its silence on the concerning involvement of the US in our national security matters,” Venugopal posted.
Sabhas to Span Across Key Cities
The party confirmed that ‘Jai Hind Sabhas’ will be organized in:
- Delhi
- Barmer
- Shimla
- Haldwani
- Patna
- Jabalpur
- Pune
- Goa
- Bengaluru
- Kochi
- Guwahati
- Kolkata
- Hyderabad
- Bhubaneswar
- Pathankot
These events will feature interactions with Army veterans, public dialogues, and addresses by Congress leaders to engage with citizens on security concerns.
Congress Reiterates Support for Armed Forces
On Wednesday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh reiterated the party’s unwavering support for the Indian armed forces in their fight against terrorism:
“We are standing with our armed forces like a rock. We are standing against terrorism, and we give full support to the actions taken against Pakistan,” he said.
However, Ramesh criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence from recent all-party meetings, adding that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and LoP Rahul Gandhi had formally requested a special session of Parliament to discuss the national security situation.
“Two all-party meetings were held, but PM Modi was not present in any of those meetings,” he stated.
Congress Calls for Special Parliament Session
On May 15, both Kharge and Rahul Gandhi wrote to PM Modi requesting a special session of Parliament to address the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, and broader national security concerns.
Rahul Gandhi underscored the “unanimous request” from the Opposition to convene such a session “immediately.”
Background: BJP’s Tiranga Yatra and Operation Sindoor
The Congress initiative comes in parallel to the BJP’s ongoing ‘Tiranga Yatra’, launched on May 13 to mark the success of Operation Sindoor, a military operation that followed the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. The operation involved precision strikes in Pakistan and PoJK on May 7, killing over 100 terrorists.
While both parties have expressed support for the armed forces, the Congress is now seeking to balance national solidarity with demands for political accountability and security transparency.