A stormy session is expected in both Houses of Parliament today as the high-stakes debate on Operation Sindoor and the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack begins. The government and the Opposition are on a collision course, with strong rhetoric, political symbolism, and sharp questions expected to dominate the day.
Setting the tone early this morning, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju invoked the epic Ramayan in a fiery post on X, drawing a direct comparison between Pakistan’s actions and Ravana’s overreach. “When Ravan crossed the Laxman Rekha, Lanka burned. When Pakistan crossed the red lines drawn by India, terrorist camps faced the fire,” Rijiju wrote, using the hashtag #OperationSindoor to declare the debate officially open.
The government is expected to field a powerful trio—Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar—to defend its counter-terrorism strategy and diplomatic approach following the brutal Pahalgam attack. Sources indicate Prime Minister Narendra Modi may personally intervene in the debate to highlight India’s “zero-tolerance” stance on terrorism.
The April 22 terror attack at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam left 26 civilians dead, including a tourist from Nepal and a local pony guide. Survivors recounted that the attackers selectively targeted non-Muslims. Though the Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, initially claimed responsibility, the group later denied involvement. The attack triggered Operation Sindoor—an extensive cross-border retaliation by Indian forces targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Between May 6 and 10, India launched precision strikes on 20 targets, including nine terror camps and eleven Pakistani military installations. Pakistan’s attempt to retaliate by targeting Indian civilian and military zones was successfully neutralized by India’s air defence systems. On May 10, Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations reportedly contacted his Indian counterpart, requesting a ceasefire.
But the Opposition is far from satisfied. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge are expected to lead a pointed attack on the government’s handling of national security and foreign policy. Gandhi has questioned why no global power, apart from a few Gulf nations, openly supported India’s military operation. He is also likely to revisit former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “brokering a ceasefire” between India and Pakistan—something the government has consistently denied.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, meanwhile, posed a direct question to the government: “Where are the terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam massacre? Have they disappeared into thin air?” His comments reflect the growing concern in the Opposition ranks that while military operations were executed, questions remain about accountability, intelligence lapses, and the fate of the attackers.
Today’s session is expected to stretch well beyond scheduled hours, with marathon speeches, heated exchanges, and possibly even personal barbs. A wide array of BJP ministers, MPs from NDA allies, and regional players like Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde and JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha are also slated to speak.
