New Delhi: A stormy start marked the first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, as clashes erupted between the government and the Opposition over the recent Operation Sindoor and the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Demanding an urgent discussion on both issues, Opposition parties disrupted proceedings in both Houses.
Shortly after the Lok Sabha convened, Opposition MPs raised slogans, pressing for a suspension of regular business to allow a debate on the Pahalgam massacre, which claimed 26 lives. Speaker Om Birla’s repeated calls for order went unheeded, and the House was adjourned barely 20 minutes into the session.
In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge sought a discussion not only on Operation Sindoor but also on former US President Donald Trump’s comments about mediating peace between India and Pakistan. However, Kharge clarified that the Opposition was not questioning the military operation but wanted accountability over internal security failures.
Responding to Kharge, Leader of the House J.P. Nadda said the government was ready to debate any issue, including Operation Sindoor, but emphasized that parliamentary procedures must be followed and conventions respected.
Ahead of the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set a different tone, describing it as a “session of celebration” and highlighting India’s recent achievements. Speaking to the media, he hailed the success of Operation Sindoor and praised astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s space mission as moments of national pride.
Earlier in the day, the Congress party submitted Suspension of Business notices, calling for debates on both the Pahalgam terror attack and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The party has accused the government of a security lapse and alleged manipulation of electoral data, particularly ahead of crucial state elections.
As tensions between the Treasury and Opposition benches mount, the Monsoon Session appears headed for prolonged confrontations, with national security and electoral transparency emerging as the key battlegrounds.
