The Monsoon Session of Parliament witnessed chaotic scenes on Monday as both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till noon following vociferous protests from Opposition MPs.
Their demands included urgent debates on Operation Sindoor, the voter list revision initiative in Bihar, and the large-scale closure of government schools in Uttar Pradesh.
In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla rebuked opposition members for displaying banners and interrupting the Question Hour. He implored Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, to instruct his colleagues to uphold the dignity of the House. “Do you not want to discuss Operation Sindoor?” Birla asked, highlighting a perceived contradiction between the Opposition’s prior demands and their disruptive actions.
Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Narayan Singh declined 26 adjournment notices, including concerns over the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) exercise in Bihar and alleged discrimination against Bengalis. A specific plea to discuss school closures in UP, raised by AAP’s Sanjay Singh, was rejected for not meeting procedural guidelines. Singh emphasized that notices should be submitted via the Digital Sansad portal, not in physical form.
As the clock ticks down to a high-stakes 16-hour debate on Operation Sindoor, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju urged restraint, cautioning the Opposition against language that undermines India’s armed forces. He also asked political rivals to avoid echoing narratives allegedly aligned with Pakistan, emphasizing national unity and the gravity of the situation.
India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead. The military strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK, prompting significant international attention. The Opposition has also demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi respond to claims by US President Donald Trump about mediating a ceasefire post-strikes.
