NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar.
| Photo Credit: PTI
National Congress Party (NCP-SP) supremo and former Defence Minister Sharad Pawar on Monday (May 12, 2025) criticised the Centre for letting the United States of America (USA) interfere in domestic matters of the country and demanded an explanation for involving a third party, when the Shimla Agreement is in place.
Raising concerns over third-party interference in Kashmir matters, Former Chief Minister Mr. Pawar pointed out why the principle of the Shimla Agreement was violated during the ceasefire with Pakistan.
“I remember the Shimla Agreement was signed so that a third country would not interfere in the problems of the two countries. So far, we have not allowed anyone to interfere in the iternal issues of the two countries. But for the first time, U.S. President Donald Trump is discussing our internal issues. In such a case, if someone asks what was the need to seek help from the USA, the Centre has to be answerable,“ said Mr. Pawar, while speaking to the media on Monday.
The Shimla Agreement is the peace treaty signed between former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1972.
After the escalation between India and Pakistan, U.S. President Donald Trump’s intervention led to a ceasefire agreement between the two countries. Mr. Trump informed that the tension between the two countries had calmed down through social media, which did not go down well with Mr. Pawar.
“Special Session not required.”
After India launched Operation Sindoor, a strategic countermeasure in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the opposition in Maharashtra has demanded a special session, to which Mr. Pawar has disagreed, inferring “confidentiality of the matter”.
Mr. Pawar said, “I am not against the session, but there is no need as this subject is very sensitive; it cannot be discussed openly. During my tenure as Defence Minister, when such incidents occurred, only a few people were informed. Everyone would expect the government to tell what exactly happened in a special session.”
He suggested that the opposition and the government should discuss the issue together in a joint meeting instead of a special session.
Published – May 13, 2025 02:43 am IST
