jairam-ramesh-demands-2-day-debate-on-key-national-issues

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday made it clear that the opposition's demand for at least two full days of parliamentary debate on key national issues—including the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, revelations around Operation Sindoor, statements made by former US President Donald Trump, and the ongoing China issue—is non-negotiable. Speaking ahead of the Monsoon Session, Ramesh stressed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must personally respond to these matters on the floor of the House.

In an interview with national media, the Congress general secretary in charge of communications said that the INDIA bloc remains united in its approach. He added that the bloc’s prominent leaders will hold an online meeting on Saturday, with a follow-up meeting scheduled in Delhi soon after.

👉 We must have at least two full days of debate and discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22.

👉 We have several critical issues that need discussion: the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, China's role in Pakistan Air Force operations, and the claims made by… pic.twitter.com/glXIQd2ywd

— Congress (@INCIndia) July 18, 2025

Ramesh also emphasised the demand for a debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, calling it another non-negotiable issue for the opposition. He accused the government of disenfranchising Dalits, minorities, tribals, and migrant workers under the guise of an electoral roll revision, calling the move a “diabolical and dangerous votebandi.” Comparing it to demonetisation, he alleged that the government was now engaged in “votebandi,” designed to rig the upcoming Bihar elections. He further criticised the Election Commission, saying it is functioning more like a department of the BJP than a neutral constitutional authority, especially since it announced that the same voter roll process would be replicated in other states.

On the issues being brought up for debate, Ramesh pointed to the serious revelations made by senior defence officials—CDS General Anil Chauhan, Group Captain Ajay Shivkumar, and Lt Gen Rahul Singh—regarding Operation Sindoor. He said that these statements alone warrant a comprehensive discussion in Parliament. Referring to the terror attack in Pahalgam, Ramesh questioned why the perpetrators have still not been brought to justice. He also mentioned Donald Trump’s repeated claims—made 23 times in 66 days—that the U.S. halted Operation Sindoor and used trade deals as a tool of pressure between India and Pakistan. Ramesh stressed that such remarks by a former US president cannot be brushed aside and deserve attention in the Indian Parliament.

 

Also Read: Congress raises concerns amid India-US trade deal talks

He expressed disappointment that in the past 11 years, the current government has not shown willingness to find a middle path or build consensus. Instead, he accused the Prime Minister of taking a “my way or the highway” approach. Ramesh recalled how previous governments dealt with national crises more responsibly. After the Kargil war, for instance, the Kargil Review Committee was quickly set up under K Subrahmanyam, and the report was presented in Parliament. He pointed out that it's been five years since the deadly Galwan Valley clash, and yet, Parliament has had no meaningful discussion on China, even though the Prime Minister gave a clean chit to the country despite a breach in the decades-old status quo.

Ramesh said the government must allow a debate not only on Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor, but also on China’s role in the Pakistan Air Force’s operations and the broader implications of Trump’s claims. He argued that the situation demands at least three to four days of serious, uninterrupted discussion to address how India should respond to the growing challenge from China and what collective measures must be taken.

He further criticised the government’s economic narrative, pointing out the contradiction in the “Make in India” campaign. “Make in India is still heavily dependent on Made in China,” he said, underlining the need for honest discussion around economic and strategic dependencies. Ramesh reiterated that the Prime Minister must be present in Parliament and provide a direct response to all these concerns. He maintained that the opposition’s demands are rooted in national interest and cannot be negotiated away.

 

Also Read: Jairam slams BJP as Trump repeats credit for India-Pak truce

Commenting on the INDIA bloc's internal coordination, Ramesh said that while leaders were unable to meet physically on Saturday due to other engagements, a virtual meeting has been scheduled. This will be followed by an in-person meeting in Delhi. He said that the heads of the constituent parties will participate in the discussions, and floor leaders in both Houses will continue to engage with each other throughout the session. He affirmed that the INDIA bloc remains absolutely united and coordinated.

Taking a swipe at the ruling party, Ramesh questioned why the BJP has yet to name a new party president after JP Nadda. He said even BJP MPs have publicly expressed concern, with one stating that without Narendra Modi’s leadership, the BJP wouldn’t even win 150 seats. He added that the BJP and RSS should be more worried about their own internal cracks than speculating about opposition unity.

 

Finally, Ramesh highlighted that Leaders of the Opposition in both Houses—Mallikarjun Kharge in the Rajya Sabha and Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha—have jointly written to Prime Minister Modi, urging the government to introduce legislation in the Monsoon Session to grant full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He said it is unprecedented in Indian political history for a full-fledged state to be reduced to a Union Territory. Ramesh added that the Congress also supports bringing Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, and legislation on this must also be introduced without delay.

 

Also Read: Jairam Ramesh says ECI is snatching voters' constitutional rights