The Monsoon Session of Parliament is set to proceed today after an unruly first day marked by repeated disruptions and adjournments caused by Opposition protests over the Pahalgam terror attack.
Proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were thrown into disarray on Monday as the Congress-led Opposition pressed for an immediate discussion on Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory strike following the attack, citing it as a major security lapse in Jammu and Kashmir. The ruckus began within minutes of the Lok Sabha convening, with Opposition MPs demanding suspension of all scheduled business to prioritise the debate.
Speaker Om Birla attempted to bring the House to order but was forced to adjourn proceedings barely 20 minutes after they began.
Similar scenes unfolded in the Rajya Sabha, where Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a debate on Operation Sindoor as well as on former US President Donald Trump’s reported claim of mediating peace between India and Pakistan. Kharge clarified that the Opposition had no intention of politicising India’s military response, but said the matter deserved serious parliamentary scrutiny.
Leader of the House J.P. Nadda responded by reaffirming the government’s readiness for discussion, stating, “We are prepared to debate every issue, but House conventions must be respected.”
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Monsoon Session as a “celebration” of India’s strength and progress. Speaking to the media before Parliament convened, PM Modi cited the success of Operation Sindoor and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s space mission as milestones reflecting India’s rising global standing.
Meanwhile, the Congress submitted Suspension of Business Notices in both Houses, calling for urgent discussions not only on the Pahalgam terror attack but also on alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, a key state heading into assembly elections later this year.
