Pahalgam terror, Op Sindoor: Parliament gears up for marathon debate
New Delhi: Parliament's Monsoon Session, after a week of disruptions, is set for a heated debate from Monday on two critical issues: the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition are poised for a major clash over these matters, which touch upon national security and foreign policy.
The discussions, expected to be led by top leaders from both sides, will take place in the Lok Sabha on Monday and the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Sources indicate that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will present the government's stance, with a potential intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to highlight his administration's "robust" track record on national security.
Leading the charge for the Opposition are expected to be Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, along with Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed that a marathon 16-hour debate on these twin issues has been agreed upon for each House.
The ruling NDA plans to field not only its key ministers but also members from the seven multi-party delegations that visited over 30 world capitals to present India's case after Operation Sindoor. These include MPs like Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena), Sanjay Jha (JD(U)), and Harish Balayogi (TDP). A point of speculation is whether Congress's Shashi Tharoor, who led a delegation to the US and has publicly supported the government's post-attack actions, will be chosen to speak by his party, given reported strains in their relationship.
The Opposition's criticism centres on alleged intelligence lapses leading to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians, and US President Donald Trump's claims of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly challenged the government's foreign policy, asserting a lack of international support for India during Operation Sindoor and citing Trump's mediation claims.
Conversely, Prime Minister Modi has lauded Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror sites in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack, for achieving "100 per cent" of its objectives and showcasing India's indigenous defence capabilities. He stated that India has established a "new normal" in its response to Pakistan-linked terrorism, vowing no differentiation between terrorists and their sponsors. The four-day conflict that followed Pakistan's retaliation reportedly caused serious damage to several of its air bases.
A separate point of contention, which primarily stalled Parliament in the first week, is the Opposition's demand for a debate on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar by the Election Commission. The Opposition claims this exercise unfairly aids the BJP-led alliance in the poll-bound state, while the EC maintains its sole focus is on ensuring only eligible voters are on the rolls. Rijiju has indicated that this issue may be taken up for discussion later, in line with parliamentary rules.
With inputs from PTI