Lok Sabha set for fiery debate on Op Sindoor today

The first week of disruption in Parliament’s monsoon session is set to give way to a fiery debate on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor from Monday as the ruling alliance and the Opposition prepare to lock horns over the two issues steeped in national security and foreign policy imperatives.

The Lok Sabha will hold a special discussion on Operation Sindoor on Monday, followed by the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will initiate the discussion on behalf of the government in Lok Sabha on July 28.

Sources said the main Opposition party Congress would hold a meeting of its floor leaders on Monday, where it was likely to seek the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha during the discussion. A total of 32 hours, 16 in each House, have been allocated for the debate.

The Business Advisory Committee of Lok Sabha had last week decided that a special discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor will be held on July 28.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said in Parliament last week that prior to the commencement of the session, Opposition parties, including the Congress, had written to the government demanding a discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. “We conveyed to them that we are ready for the discussion,” he said.

However, he added, “The Opposition began disrupting proceedings from day one and protested both inside and outside the House. We could pass only one Bill in the first week. I appeal to the Opposition not to stall the House. They may raise every issue under the rules. It’s a loss for the country if Parliament doesn’t function.”

The entire first week of the monsoon session of Parliament, which began on July 21, was washed out due to protests by the Opposition, which has been demanding a rollback of the SIR in Bihar and a discussion on the Pahalgam attack.