All-Party Meeting on Pahalgam Terror Attack Excludes AIMIM, Owaisi Calls It “Undemocratic”

New Delhi: In response to the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, the Centre convened an all-party meeting on Thursday to discuss the incident. However, the meeting’s participation was limited to parties with a minimum of five Members of Parliament in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, excluding several smaller regional and national parties, including the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Reacting sharply to his exclusion, Owaisi termed the move “undemocratic,” emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in such critical discussions. Speaking about the situation, Owaisi shared his conversation with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. “I spoke to Kiren Rijiju last night. He said they’re thinking of inviting only parties with ‘5 or 10 MPs.’ When I asked why not parties with fewer MPs, he said that the meeting would get ‘too long.’ When I asked, ‘What about us, the smaller parties?’ He joked that my voice is anyway, too loud,” Owaisi stated.

Owaisi further criticized the decision, asserting that the meeting was not a BJP or any other party’s internal gathering but rather an all-party meeting aimed at sending a strong and unified message against terrorism. He called on the government to include every party with representation in Parliament, irrespective of their size. “This is not a political issue, it is a national issue. Everyone must be heard. I urge Narendra Modi to make this a real ALL Party Meeting, every party with an MP in Parliament must be invited,” Owaisi urged.

The Centre’s all-party meeting is set to hear briefings from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah, who will provide updates on the Pahalgam terror attack. Singh will chair the meeting, where political leaders will share their perspectives on the tragedy.