The Monsoon session of Parliament was opened on a stormy note Monday, as acrimonious exchanges took place between the government and the Opposition over Operation Sindoor—India's recent military offensive targeting terror infrastructure within Pakistani terrain.
Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha saw angry scenes, with the Opposition calling for an immediate debate on the operation as a platform to question the government's response to national security, especially in the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 individuals.
There was bedlam in the Lok Sabha shortly after the sitting opened. Opposition MPs disrupted business by raising slogans during Question Hour and demanded suspending the day's legislative schedule to take up the security lapse in Pahalgam. Even Speaker Om Birla's efforts at restoring order could not be sustained, and the bedlam forced the House to be adjourned after just 20 minutes of sitting.
Simultaneously, in the Rajya Sabha, Opposition Leader Mallikarjun Kharge expressed apprehensions regarding repeated assertions by U.S. President Donald Trump that he could broker peace between India and Pakistan. Claiming that the Opposition did not intend to politicize the military operation, Kharge wanted to be held accountable for security failures at home.
Reiterating to Kharge, Leader of the House J.P. Nadda assured that the government was open to discussing any subject but clarified that due parliamentary conventions and procedures need to be adhered to.
Prior to the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the media, positioning the Monsoon session as a "celebration" of India's recent successes — including the success of Operation Sindoor and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's space flight. He invited all MPs to participate constructively and express national pride in their involvement.
During the day, the Congress had filed several Suspension of Business notices in both Houses seeking urgent discussion over the Pahalgam attack and the suspicion of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar — a state that will shortly enter assembly elections.
The Opposition led by the Congress has been demanding clarification from the government on matters of national security and integrity of the elections as well, alleging that it is guilty of grave lapses in the face of recent incidents.
As the Monsoon session progresses, it is evident that Operation Sindoor — far from bringing political voices together — has laid the ground for another belligerent chapter between the ruling party and the Opposition in Parliament.
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