Lok Sabha to debate Operation Sindoor on July 28, PM Modi likely to intervene

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to intervene in the discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor to be held in Parliament next week.

The Lok Sabha will discuss the issue on July 28, with the Opposition insisting on the Prime Minister's reply. Official sources have indicated the PM may intervene, if not reply, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expected to respond in detail.

The PM is, meanwhile, likely to address the domestic and global audience through the parliamentary debate on the issue. Sources said it would be an occasion to expose Pakistan for sponsoring terror and to engage the world on India's newly framed doctrine that future terror attacks will be treated and responded to as “acts of war”.

The Rajya Sabha too will discuss the matter next week, with the business advisory committee (BAC) of the House holding its first meeting on Wednesday after the shock resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar as Vice-President on Monday.

The Rajya Sabha BAC, on the lines of the Lok Sabha BAC, has decided to allocate 16 hours to the crucial discussion, which the Opposition sees as an opportunity to corner the government on the issue of combat losses, US President Donald Trump's repeated claims of negotiation in the India-Pakistan conflict ceasefire and his remarks that he used trade to get the nuclear-armed neighbours to cease hostilities in May.

The government sources have yet not made any commitment to the Opposition on whether the PM will intervene, but hasn't said no either.

Pramod Tiwari, Congress deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha who represented his party at the BAC meeting today, said the Opposition demanded that the PM be present during the discussions. “We have been assured of this by the government," he said.

A government leader said the PM may speak during the debate because the issue had global resonance, especially after India dispatched a multi-party delegation to articulate its view on the necessity and outcomes of Operation Sindoor, the military response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 civilian lives. The Opposition is also gearing up to question the government on why the terrorists behind the attack were still at large.