Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, known as one of the party’s most articulate voices in Parliament, has decided not to participate in the highly anticipated debate on ‘Operation Sindoor’ scheduled for Monday, senior party sources said.
The Lok Sabha is expected to hold a 16-hour marathon discussion on ‘Operation Sindoor’, India’s military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
The operation, which involved cross-border strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, has sparked widespread political, diplomatic, and public debate.
Shashi Tharoor’s absence from the speakers’ list has attracted significant attention, especially given his prominent role in leading a diplomatic outreach delegation to the United States following the operation.
Congress sources revealed that Tharoor was invited to take part in the discussion but opted out for reasons not disclosed.
The Congress lineup for the debate includes Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Deputy LoP Gaurav Gogoi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Deepender Hooda, Parineeti Shinde, Shafi Parambil, Manickam Tagore, and Raja Barad.
On the government’s side, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to open the debate by outlining the strategic objectives and outcomes of ‘Operation Sindoor’. He will be joined by Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who will elaborate on the government’s position regarding the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s military response.
BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Nishikant Dubey are also scheduled to speak, reinforcing the ruling party’s stance and emphasizing national security priorities.
In response, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, along with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and other Opposition members, are preparing to challenge the government’s narrative, calling for greater transparency, accountability, and clarity on the long-term implications of the operation.
The Congress has issued a strict three-day whip to ensure the presence of all its MPs, underlining the importance it places on this crucial debate.
Since the Monsoon Session began on July 21, Parliament has witnessed repeated adjournments due to Opposition demands for urgent discussions on national issues — including the Pahalgam attack and the Election Commission’s ongoing SIR exercise in Bihar.
Adding further pressure, the Opposition is also demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in response to remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed to have helped broker a “ceasefire” between India and Pakistan following ‘Operation Sindoor’.
However, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned till noon amid persistent sloganeering and disruptions by Opposition MPs. (News report)
