Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 24: In the aftermath of the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, the Central Government has called for an all-party meeting on Thursday to deliberate on the national response and send a united message against terrorism. However, the exclusion of smaller parties from the meet has drawn sharp criticism from some political leaders, including AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.
The government has reportedly limited participation in the high-level meeting to parties with at least five Members of Parliament in either the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha—a move that left out several regional and national parties, including the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).
Terming the move "undemocratic", Owaisi expressed disappointment and said that every elected representative, regardless of the party size, deserved to have their voice heard during such a crucial national crisis. “This is not a BJP or any other party’s internal meeting. It is an all-party meeting meant to project unity against terrorism and the nations that harbor terrorists,” Owaisi said.
He revealed that he had spoken to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who informed him about the five-MP threshold, saying inviting all parties might make the meeting “too long.” “When I asked, ‘What about us, the smaller parties?’ he joked that my voice is anyway, too loud,” Owaisi remarked, pointing out the irony.
Owaisi made an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to ensure that the meeting truly represents all voices from Parliament. “Your party does not have a majority on its own either. Whether it is one MP or a hundred, all were elected by the people of India. This is not a political issue; this is a national issue. Everyone must be heard,” he asserted.
The Centre plans to brief party leaders on the developments surrounding the Pahalgam terror incident, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expected to chair the meeting and Home Minister Amit Shah likely to present a detailed report.
This all-party meeting follows the precedent of similar briefings held in the wake of major national security events such as the Pulwama terror attack in 2019 and the India-China standoff in 2020. However, the exclusion of certain parties this time has sparked a debate on inclusivity and democratic representation during times of national crisis.