Ceasefire announcement was first made by US President Donald Trump, not by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It hurt the dignity of the sovereignty of India, and thus of its citizens. Not only that, PM Modi is yet to address the nation, on Ceasefire, as if he has lost his face to face the people of the country.

US President declared that the agreement of ceasefire was reached under US mediation, on which the chief opposition party Congress has demanded clarification from the Government of India. After the Indo-Pak war of 1971, which led to split of the Pakistan into two and creation of a new country Bangladesh, India and Pakistan had signed Simla Agreement in 1972 that specifically forbid any third-party mediation on the issue of Kashmir, recognizing it to be a bilateral issue preventing its internationalization.

The Congress has asked the government to clarify whether it had accepted third party mediation on Kashmir. The party strongly criticized the attempts to “internationalize” the issue, and demanded a special session of the Parliament, reminding it of the 1994 resolution of the Parliament to take back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Congress, to the political disadvantage of PM Modi and BJP, compared the current situation to 1971 Indo-Pak War under PM Indira Gandhi the leader of the Indian National Congress. The Congress said that it was the first time a third country had made announcement on behalf of India and Pakistan and questioned the US’s bid to “hyphenate” the two countries.

The issue is significant since allowing any third-party mediation in the Kashmir issue amounts to damaging or compromising the national interest. Congress leader Sachin Pilot asked, “On what conditions the ceasefire has been declared and what is the guarantee that such things would not be repeated, as there is no credibility left after violation of ceasefire (by Pakistan on the very same day).”

Congress general secretary (communication) Jairam Ramesh said that in 1971, Indira Gandhi made Pakistan to surrender, despite the Nixon-Kissinger duo of the United States sending its Seventh Freet into the Bay of Bengal, implying that despite opposition’s full support to PM Narendra Modi led government could not accomplish such a thing.

Referring to a statement by US secretary of State Marco Rubio, who mentioned a “neutral site” for dialogue between the two countries, Ramesh asked whether this signaled a departure from the principles of the Simla Agreement, which firmly opposes third-party intervention in India-Pakistan matters. “Have we abandoned the Simla Agreement? Have we opened the doors to third-party mediation? … What commitments have we sought and got?” he asked.

Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh has also referred to statements made by two former army chiefs VP Malik and ManojNaravane on Ceasefire agreement and said that it demands a response from the Prime Minister himself.

It should be recalled that General VP Malik had questioned the US’ role as mediator saying the US is acting as the last word in mediation even though this was an issue which India was capable of handling itself. General Naravane has said that this is cessation of military operation not ceasefire, and we will have to wait and watch how things will unfold in the days and weeks to come.

Though BJP has responded to it by saying that the creation of Bangladesh was a “historic opportunity lost” due to the failure of the political leadership at that time, it is not as convincing as the Congress attack on PM Modi by questioning ‘US role’ in ceasefire talks with Pakistan. Additionally, Modi government’s failure is more than obvious in making Pakistan surrender and accept India’s term to either eliminate terror network in Pakistan or help India to do so. India got no assurance as such, despite India’s demand that Pakistan hand over the terrorists wanted in India.

Additionally, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge have written to Prime Minister urging a special session of Parliament to deliberate on the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, and the US-announced ceasefire.

Had the United States dictated terms and India sold the national interest to them, by allowing third party intervention in the Kashmir issue? It is a major question in the minds of the people that may by politically damaging to PM Modi and his party, if it goes without a convincing answer by the ruling establishment.

Communist Party of India’s general secretary D Raja said, “One issue is that it was said that America mediated, and we don’t know what was mediated.”

The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation’s general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said, “So India under Modi now needs ‘a long night of American mediation’ to agree to a ceasefire after three days of growing concern in the country about the consequences of a full-scale India-Pakistan military conflict. The news of a ceasefire was broken by Trump and his officials before being corroborated by India and Pakistan. … Wish the two regimes listened to their own people and did not leave room for American intervention. Shame on the dominant media in India and Pakistan which were busy whipping up war hysteria, spreading fake news to claim victory and celebrate and sell war as entertainment.”

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul leader Asaduddin Owaisi demanded strongly that irrespective of the ceasefire, “We must pursue the terrorists responsible for Pahalgam attack”. “We have been opposed to third party intervention since Simla (1972). Why have we now accepted it?” he asked. Have we achieved our aim of deterring Pakistan from carrying out future terror attacks?

RJP MP Manoj Jha said that he felt “unsettled” by the announcement of ceasefire by Donald Trump.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has also expressed his concern over the US mediated Ceasefire saying that peace is paramount but also the sovereignty of the country.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that the US President’s mediation in the India-Pakistan issue “not correct”. He said, “Our armed forces were in ‘josh’, they could have reached Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, who stopped it?”

Numerous Hindutva activists are also not happy with the way the ceasefire agreement was done. Almost the entire Hindu right wing has reacted with disappointment and anger. People, experts, and even diplomats believe that this ceasefire is not a long-term peace. It is in this background opposition political parties gearing up to take to task the ruling establishment is significant. India’s actual gains and losses during Pahalgam attack on April 22 and May 10 ceasefire agreement, and the fallout after the US mediation, are talking points in the public which may adversely impact BJP’s political fortune. (IPA Service)