Rafale, JPC and now Parliament session on Operation Sindoor, Sharad Pawar is not always on same page as Oppn

This is not the first time that Sharad Pawar has taken a different line from his party allies.

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar doesn’t seem to be on the same page as the Congress and other INDIA allies in demanding a special Parliament session on Pahalgam terror attacks, Operation Sindoor and India-Pakistan ceasefire.

Pawar’s moves are being closely followed as talks of a re-merger with the breakaway faction led by Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who is also his nephew, swirl.

Reacting to the demand for a special session and an all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 84-year-old leader said Parliament may not be the right forum to discuss issues of national security.

“I am not against calling a special session of Parliament but this is a sensitive and serious issue and discussing such a serious issue is difficult in Parliament… It is necessary to keep information confidential for national interest… Instead of calling a special session, it would be better if we all sit together (for an all-party meeting),” he told Indian Express on May 12.

Two days earlier, in a surprise move, India and Pakistan declared a stop to military action against each other after US President Donald Trump announced a “ceasefire’ between the two neighours following four days on intense aerial warfare.

This is not the first time that Pawar has taken a different line from his party allies. Take a look:

2014: After the 2014 Maharashtra assembly polls, the BJP won 122 seats out of 288. Its estranged ally, the undivided Shiv Sena, initially chose to sit in the Opposition but the Pawar-led NCP offered unconditional support to the BJP.

2018: Congress and other Opposition parties had been targeting the Modi government over the Rafale fighter jet deal with France, alleging corruption and crony capitalism. In a TV interview, Pawar had purportedly said, “I do not think people doubt (PM) Modi’s personal integrity but the manner in which crucial information (regarding the Rafale deal) is being suppressed, and the manner in which (then defence minister) Nirmala Sitharaman ji handled the issue has heightened suspicion.”

2023: Even as senior alliance partner Congress demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe against the Adani group following a report by Hindenburg Research, Pawar did not agree with the stalling of Parliament over the issue.

He also said he believed that the Adani group was being “targeted” by unknown entities.

The American short-sellers had accused the Gautam Adani group of stock manipulations and governance lapses, among others. The group denied the charges.

2024: During the Lok Sabha campaign, Pawar distanced himself  from allegations against the Adani group, which were repeated by allies the Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).

According to reports, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will on May 16 hold a press conference to “address the issues” arising after the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

In an letter to Modi, Gandhi said, “It is crucial for the people and their representatives to discuss” Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and ceasefire.

The Congress will also take out Jai Hind Yatras in cities to counter the BJP’s attempt to “politicise the operation against Pakistan”.