New Delhi [India], May 13 (ANI): Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi defended the demands of the Congress after India and Pakistan reached an understanding of cessation of hostilities, saying that the opposition party was not raising doubts, but merely suggested that a special parliamentary session be convened to answer questions regarding the 'ceasefire' announced by US President Donald Trump.

She expressed faith in the government, saying that it would provide the opposition and the people with answers regarding the 'ceasefire' announced by US President Donald Trump, either through a special parliamentary session or an all-party meeting.

'I don't think Congress is raising questions (or doubting), but a suggestion to have a special parliamentary session on this. Already, two all-party meetings have happened, after Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor. I am sure there will be another all-party meeting in which all parties will be told about why US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire. The government will give us answers via an all-party meeting or through a special parliament session. We stand with the country and our armed forces,' Chaturvedi told ANI.

Meanwhile, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge refused to comment on the US President Donald Trump taking credit for the truce between India and Pakistan, saying that the matter was confidential and would be discussed in the all-party meeting.

'This is a confidential matter. We will discuss everything in the all-party meeting. It is not right to speak about it here,' Kharge told reporters here.

CPI leader D Raja said that the PM should answer questions raised by the opposition, and for that, a special session of Parliament was needed.

'India as a nation stands united in the fight against terrorism...but PM should have answered certain pertinent questions...how the Pahalgam terror attack took place? What were lapses on our part?... How was understanding reached between India and Pakistan, and what role did America play?...what is the truth? What's next, nobody knows...our party has been demanding a special session of Parliament, let PM explain govt's position,' he said.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TKS Elangovan welcomed US President Donald Trump's reported mediation efforts, calling it a 'good move.' However, he emphasised that the Indian government must clarify the nature of discussions held with Trump, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not mention the same in his address on Monday night.

'US President Donald Trump claims that he had discussed with both governments to stop the war, and the Prime Minister had not said anything about that. Why did Trump make that statement? Did he speak with the Indian government? If he held a discussion, they have to say. Stopping the war is a good move by Trump,' Elangovan told ANI.

On Monday, PM Modi hit out at Pakistan over its support to cross-border terrorism and said that 'terror and talks' and 'terror and trade' cannot go together.

In a first address to the nation since India's military retaliation 'Operation Sindoor,' PM Modi outlined three key pillars of India's security doctrine.

Firstly, the 'Decisive Retaliation,' any terrorist attack on India will be met with a strong and resolute response. India will retaliate on its terms, targeting terror hubs at their roots. The second is 'No Tolerance for Nuclear Blackmail.' PM Modi said India will not be intimidated by nuclear threats. The third pillar is 'No distinction between terror sponsors and terrorists.' PM Modi said India will no longer see terrorist leaders and the governments sheltering them as separate entities.

PM Modi said that after the surgical strike in 2016 and the air strike in 2019, Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism.

Referring to India putting in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and said, 'water and blood cannot flow together'. (ANI)