New Delhi: In the aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that claimed 26 lives, the Indian government called for an all-party meeting on Thursday evening to discuss the national security situation. However, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi initially expressed frustration over not receiving an invitation to the meeting.
Owaisi took to social media to voice his disappointment, revealing that he had been told by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju that the Centre planned to invite only parties with “five or 10 MPs.” He criticized this selective invitation process, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that all political parties, regardless of their representation in Parliament, be invited to the discussion. “Every party, regardless of the number of MPs, was elected by the people and deserves to be heard on such a critical issue,” Owaisi wrote on social media.
The Hyderabad MP emphasized that terrorism is not a political issue but a national issue that affects every Indian. He further explained that when he questioned the exclusion of smaller parties, Rijiju responded by saying the meeting would become “too long” and even joked about his “loud voice.”
However, Owaisi’s concerns were later addressed when the Home Minister personally called him to invite him to the all-party meeting. “The reason for which the all-party meeting is called is of national importance. The Home Minister just called me and asked where I am. He has asked me to come. I will book the earliest ticket and reach the all-party meeting (in Delhi),” he stated, confirming his participation in the gathering.
The all-party meeting, set to be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, will primarily focus on the repercussions of the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, lost their lives. Owaisi stressed that the meeting should serve as a platform for all parties to come together and send a unified message against terrorism and the countries that harbour it.
