‘When Ravan crossed Laxman Rekha, Lanka burned’: Rijiju's explosive post before Parliament debate

New Delhi: Hours before the Lok Sabha opens a crucial debate on ‘Operation Sindoor’, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju set the tone with a fiery post on social media, invoking mythological parallels to India’s military response against terrorism.

"When Ravan crossed the Laxman Rekha, Lanka burned. When Pakistan crossed the red lines drawn by India, terrorist camps faced the fire!" Rijiju wrote on X, referring to India's retaliatory strikes following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead.

The Lok Sabha is slated to begin a special 16-hour debate today on Operation Sindoor, India’s military operation targeting terrorist infrastructure across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). A parallel 16-hour discussion is scheduled for the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

Who all will speak?

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to initiate the discussion in the Lok Sabha. Joining him will be Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and prominent BJP MPs like Anurag Thakur and Nishikant Dubey.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to intervene during the discussion in both Houses of Parliament, ANI sources confirmed.

From the Opposition benches, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and MPs like Rajiv Rai and Mallikarjun Kharge will lead the charge. The Congress has already issued a whip mandating the presence of all its MPs for the duration of the debate.

Tense backdrop: Terror, tariffs, and political tumult

Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the brutal April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 civilians lost their lives. India’s response involved precision strikes aimed at dismantling terrorist camps operating with Pakistan’s support.

Adding to the tension, Opposition parties are also demanding clarity from the government regarding US President Donald Trump’s claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, an issue likely to surface during the debate.

The first week of the Monsoon Session was marred by disruptions, including the unexpected resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and disagreements over electoral roll revisions in Bihar. However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rijiju confirmed that the government and Opposition had agreed to prioritise the national security discussion to kick off the second week.