The Government on Monday agreed to a 16-hour discussion in the Lok Sabha on Operation Sindoor and Pahalgam terror attack, and it is likely to be taken up next week, even as the opposition insisted that it should start this week itself and Prime Minister Narendra Modi must reply.
At the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), attended by members of different parties and chaired by Speaker Om Birla, sources said that the Government representatives noted that PM Modi is leaving on a foreign visit this week, and a debate when he is present in the House is possible only next week.
Asked if the Government’s stand means that Modi may speak on the issue in the House, official sources said no decision has been taken yet.
The Prime Minister met his senior Cabinet colleagues who later held deliberations among themselves on the ruling alliance’s strategy.
Opposition members protested at the BAC meeting that the government’s agenda for this week did not mention their demand for a debate on the issue.
They said the Home Minister and the Defence Minister should also be present during the discussion.
Some opposition members also called for a debate on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and the situation in Manipur.
The Lok Sabha expressed its resolve for zero tolerance against terrorism and mourned the deaths of 26 people in the Pahalgam terror attack.
Speaker Om Birla also expressed grief over the deaths of 260 people in the June 12 Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.
“Twenty-six innocent persons were brutally killed in the terror attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025. This act of terror was an attack on the consciousness of the nation and also the entire world,” Birla said as the Lok Sabha convened for the Monsoon session beginning Monday.
“This House expresses deep grief over the deaths in this attack and reiterates India’s resolve of zero tolerance against terrorism,” he said.
Birla said 260 people, including 241 passengers and 19 others, died in the Air India crash.
“Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani also died in this accident,” Birla said.
Meanwhile, After repeated disruptions, the Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned virtually without transacting any business today on day one of the Monsoon Session following continuous uproar by the Opposition demanding a discussion on Operation Sindoor.
Earlier in the day, the House witnessed three adjournments.
As soon as the House met for the day at 11 AM, members of the Opposition, including those from the Congress and Samajwadi Party, raised from their seats and demanded discussion on Operation Sindoor.
Speaker Om Birla told the sloganeering members that any topic the members wished to discuss could be taken up under the rules, but they refused to listen to the Chair and continued to create ruckus.
The Speaker then adjourned the House till 12 noon.
When the House re-assembled at noon, the scene remained the same. Presiding officer, Jagdambika Pal, urged the Opposition parties to allow the proceedings to continue, but they continued to create a ruckus.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also urged the Opposition members to refrain from creating a disturbance and to allow the House to function smoothly.
He stated that the Government was ready to discuss any issue for which the Speaker or the Presiding Officer grants permission. He emphasised that the Government is willing to discuss every matter and respond accordingly. He appealed to the Opposition members to let the proceedings of the House continue without disruption.
The Opposition members ignored the appeals of both the Parliamentary Affairs Minister and the Defence Minister and continued to create a commotion.
Jagdambika Pal urged the agitating members to let the House function, but the disruptions did not stop. As a result, the Presiding Officer adjourned the House proceedings until 2 PM. (Agencies)
