SRINAGAR: The Monsoon Session of Parliament began on a stormy note on Monday as both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned within minutes of convening, following a ruckus by opposition members demanding a detailed discussion on the recent Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
Opposition parties, led by the Congress, pressed for an immediate response from the government on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the outcome of Operation Sindoor, the military operation launched in response to the April 22 attack that claimed 26 lives, most of them tourists.
As soon as proceedings began, members from the opposition benches raised slogans and sought suspension of business to take up the matter of Jammu and Kashmir, forcing both houses to be adjourned till noon.
The Congress is also expected to seek answers from the government on several related issues, including the Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the Air India crash in Ahmedabad, and former US President Donald Trump’s reported claim about mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a brief statement to the media ahead of the session, said Operation Sindoor had achieved its objectives swiftly, demolishing the homes of those behind the Pahalgam attack within 22 minutes. He said the operation had demonstrated India’s military capability and had drawn global attention.
Modi urged MPs to ensure smooth functioning of the house, saying unity in Parliament during critical times strengthens national morale and the defence sector.
The Monsoon Session, scheduled to run until August 21 with a break from August 12 to August 18, will comprise 21 sittings over 32 days. Several key legislations are expected to be taken up, including the Income-Tax Bill, Coastal Shipping Bill, Bills of Lading Bill, Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, and the Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill.
