The Lok Sabha will on Monday, July 28, hold a marathon 16-hour discussion on Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed that the Business Advisory Committee had decided to hold a special discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent military action under Operation Sindoor. While the Opposition had flagged multiple issues for debate, it was agreed that Operation Sindoor would be taken up as priority.
Opposition parties, including the Congress, had earlier written to the government demanding that Operation Sindoor be discussed before the Monsoon Session got underway.
Operation Sindoor will be debated for 16 hours in the Lok Sabha on Monday and for the same duration in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
The Opposition is also likely to seek clarification from the government on United States President Donald Trump’s repeated claims of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan — an issue that has been raised several times by Opposition leaders.
According to news agency, the debate is likely to be initiated by Defence minister Rajnath Singh. Union home minister Amit Shah, external affairs minister S Jaishankar, and BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Nishikant Dubey are expected to participate as well.
Reports indicate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could use the high-profile debate to launch an attack on the Opposition benches, though there has been no official confirmation yet.
From the TDP, MPs Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu and GM Harish Balayogi are likely to speak, with the party having been allotted 30 minutes, according to PTI sources.
The Opposition side will see LoP Rahul Gandhi, Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Manish Tewari, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, NCP’s Supriya Sule and Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee among the key speakers.
Floor leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc will meet at 10 am on Monday to finalise their strategy for the second week of the Monsoon Session.
The Opposition has repeatedly demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi be present in the House during the crucial debate, after his recent two-nation visit kept him away last week.
Ahead of the debate, Rijiju appealed to the Opposition “not to stall the House”, noting that adjournments and disruptions marred the first week of the Monsoon Session. “It’s a loss for the country if Parliament doesn’t function,” Rijiju said.
Leaders of the NDA who were part of multi-party delegations on Operation Sindoor, which travelled to different countries, are also expected to speak during the debate.
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