Senior Congress leader Ramchandra Kadam has called for a special session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly to discuss the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives and left many injured.
Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Kadam revealed that he had written letters to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Governor Kambhampati Hari Babu, and the Speaker of the Assembly, urging them to convene a special session to deliberate on the grave security lapse and express solidarity with the victims.
“The people of Odisha and the entire country should be made aware of the brutality of the Pahalgam attack. I’ve requested the Odisha leadership to hold a special Assembly session. The debate should happen, and people should know about it,” Kadam said.
Nationwide Call for Unity and Accountability
Kadam’s appeal aligns with the Indian National Congress’ broader demand for a special session of Parliament to address the national security implications of the Pahalgam attack. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized the need for a unified political response and urged the government to convene both Houses of Parliament for a special sitting.
“This would serve as a platform to express a joint stance against terrorism and show collective resolve in confronting such threats,” Kharge noted in his letter.
Political and Public Reactions
The Pahalgam terror attack is being considered the deadliest in the Valley since Pulwama in 2019, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel. The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly had already held a special session earlier this week, condemning the attack and adopting a resolution of solidarity with the victims.
The Congress’ push for legislative responses in both Parliament and state assemblies signals growing political pressure on the Centre to reassess its counterterrorism strategies and address concerns over cross-border infiltration.
India has already escalated diplomatic pressure on Pakistan, holding it responsible for sponsoring cross-border terrorism. Investigations into the Pahalgam attack reportedly point to Pakistan-based handlers, and Indian forces have increased operations along the Line of Control (LoC) and border security installations.