The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Monday following persistent sloganeering by Opposition members protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. The House is now scheduled to reconvene at 11 am on Tuesday for a 16-hour-long debate on Operation Sindoor, which is expected to see participation from senior Cabinet ministers and the Prime Minister.
Proceedings resumed at 2 pm after two earlier adjournments, but were swiftly disrupted again as Opposition MPs entered the Well of the House, chanting “Stop vote theft” in protest against the SIR exercise. The uproar forced the Chair to call off the day’s session.
Parliamentary Affairs Ministry sources have confirmed that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will lead the government’s side in Tuesday’s discussion, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to make an intervention.
The Congress party, which leads the Opposition bench in the Rajya Sabha, has been allocated roughly two hours to state its position. The debate will be opened by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Even as the Upper House failed to hold its planned discussion, the Lok Sabha successfully began deliberations on Operation Sindoor after being adjourned thrice earlier in the day.
Initiating the debate, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called the recent military strike “historic” and paid tribute to the armed forces. “The Parliament is ready to discuss Operation Sindoor. First of all, I would like to extend my gratitude on behalf of the Parliament towards brave jawans who have sacrificed for the country whenever required,” Singh told the House.
Also read: Rijiju urges Oppn to let Op Sindoor debate continue unhindered
He emphasised that the operation, carried out on May 6 and 7, was not only a military action but a signal of India’s firm policy against terrorism.
“Operation Sindoor was not merely a military operation but a decisive and effective demonstration of our policy against terrorism. It also reflected commitment to India's sovereignty, its identity, and our responsibility towards the citizens of the country,” Singh said.
The discussion in Lok Sabha is expected to continue into Tuesday, with key speakers from both the ruling alliance and the Opposition set to participate. Along with Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and BJP Vice-President Baijayant Panda are expected to speak on behalf of the government.
On the Opposition side, Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, will spearhead the response. He will be supported by senior party leaders including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Deepender Hooda, Praneet Shinde, Saptagiri Ulaka, and Bijendra Ola.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, addressing the media earlier, urged the Opposition to engage responsibly in the debate. “I appeal to the opposition not to speak the language of Pakistan,” he remarked.
The highly anticipated discussion is likely to be politically charged, with both sides seeking to frame the narrative ahead of key state elections later this year.
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