INDIA Bloc Holds Virtual Pre-Parliament Meeting Ahead Of Monsoon Session: Here Are 10 Key Takeaways

New Delhi: Top Opposition leaders from the INDIA bloc came together on Saturday, July 19, for a virtual meeting aimed at charting their course for the monsoon session of Parliament. But instead of a unified show of strength, the meeting reportedly turned into a mix of coordination efforts and internal discontent. With 24 parties in attendance, except the conspicuously absent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the bloc discussed national security, ideological differences, and electoral concerns, among other pressing issues.

Here are 10 key takeaways from the INDIA bloc’s virtual meeting:

1. D Raja Slams Rahul Gandhi’s Left-RSS Remark
Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja raised objections, albeit indirectly, over Rahul Gandhi’s recent comparison of the Left’s ideology in Kerala with the RSS. Sources cited by NDTV suggest Raja reminded the group that criticism among allies must not cross certain lines, especially in a coalition.

2. Demands for Regular Meetings Gain Momentum
Leaders including Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and Ram Gopal Yadav strongly pitched for regular coordination meetings, indicating that sporadic interactions are hampering strategy. Another meeting may take place in early August.

3. Push for Statehood in Jammu & Kashmir
National Conference’s Omar Abdullah urged the bloc to raise the demand for full statehood for Jammu & Kashmir in Parliament. His suggestion was widely accepted by those present.

4. Pahalgam Terror Attack to be Raised in Parliament
The bloc agreed to spotlight the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, highlighting it as a serious lapse in internal security under the BJP-led government.

5. Call to Discuss Anti-Maoist Operations and Ceasefire Offer
Dipankar Bhattacharya called for raising the issue of the Centre’s anti-Maoist operations and the rebels’ recent ceasefire proposal, suggesting a larger debate on how the conflict is being handled.

6. TMC Hits Out Over Intelligence Failures, Pegasus & NRC
Trinamool Congress’s Abhishek Banerjee questioned why the Intelligence Bureau chief was given an extension despite the Pahalgam attack. He alleged that Pegasus spyware was being misused against Opposition leaders and flagged concerns over SIR being a backdoor for NRC implementation.

7. AAP’s Absence Raises Eyebrows
The Aam Aadmi Party was missing from the meeting, fuelling speculation about its growing distance from the bloc’s evolving line and collective strategy.

8. Congress Flags Trump’s Repeated Ceasefire Claims
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said the bloc is alarmed by former US President Donald Trump’s repeated claim of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, now allegedly made 24 times, while PM Modi has remained silent.

9. Concerns Over National Security Dominated Talks
According to Tiwari, “there was complete consensus” over concerns that national security is being “compromised” under the BJP regime.

10. Allegations of ‘Undeclared Emergency’ in Bihar Over SIR
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar came under sharp criticism. The bloc called it a veiled attempt to disenfranchise voters, describing the situation as akin to an “undeclared Emergency.”