Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi have both urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a special session of Parliament following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that left 35 tourists and one Kashmiri dead on April 22.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Mr Kharge stressed the need for national unity and swift action. "At this critical moment, unity and solidarity are paramount. The Opposition firmly believes that a special session of both Houses should be called immediately to demonstrate our collective resolve against the brutal terror strike on innocent citizens," he wrote. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh shared the contents of Kharge's letter on social media platform X.

Rahul Gandhi echoed similar sentiments in his own communication to the Prime Minister. "The terrorist attack in Pahalgam has outraged every Indian. Now more than ever, we must show that our country stands united against terrorism. We urge that a special session of Parliament be convened urgently," he said.

The Parliament's Budget session had concluded earlier this month on April 4, and the next Monsoon Session is scheduled for July. The Congress leadership’s appeal comes at a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with Islamabad suspected of being involved in the attack on tourists at Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam.

Earlier, the government had organized an all-party meeting to update opposition leaders on its next steps. Both Mr Kharge and Mr Gandhi have assured the Prime Minister of the Opposition’s full backing for any retaliatory measures.

Prime Minister Modi, reacting strongly to the attack, said the incident had sparked "grief and rage from Kargil to Kanyakumari" and described it as an assault on India's soul. He vowed severe consequences for both the attackers and those behind them, declaring that "the time has come to completely dismantle the terror havens" and promising that "the will of 140 crore Indians will break the spine of the masters of terror."

In response to the Pahalgam attack, India has revoked the Indus Waters Treaty and suspended visa services for Pakistani citizens. Pakistan, in retaliation, has threatened to terminate all bilateral agreements with India, including the Simla Agreement, which governs the Line of Control.