New Delhi:
On Day 8 of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session, the Rajya Sabha witnessed high-voltage discussions as the debate on Operation Sindoor continued for a second day. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar opened the debate, reiterating India’s strong diplomatic and military position following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Jaishankar stated that India rejected all mediation offers from foreign nations, asserting that any dialogue with Pakistan would be strictly bilateral. He further declared that the Indus Water Treaty would be suspended until Pakistan stopped supporting terrorism, famously stating, “Blood and water will not flow together.” Addressing allegations of foreign involvement, he clarified that no call took place between PM Modi and former US President Donald Trump from April 22 to June 16.
The session turned emotional when Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan criticised the naming of the operation. “Why name it ‘Operation Sindoor’ when women lost their sindoor?” she questioned, referring to the widows of the victims. Bachchan accused the government of failing to uphold its promises post-Article 370 abrogation, stating, “Humility in power is very important.” Her passionate speech drew reactions from fellow MPs, leading to brief disorder in the House.
JP Nadda, Leader of the House, strongly defended the government’s actions. Praising the precision of Operation Sindoor, he said no terrorists remained at the sites. He lauded the role of political leadership in guiding the forces and criticised the previous Congress governments for “inaction after bomb blasts in Delhi, Varanasi and Mumbai.”
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari echoed similar sentiments, taking a jibe at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, suggesting he could not accept anyone from outside the Gandhi family as Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, NCP MP Fauzia Khan raised concerns about intelligence lapses, pointing out that multiple rounds of firing occurred in Pahalgam without early detection. BJP MP Satnam Singh Sandhu urged the Opposition leader who had led a foreign awareness delegation to speak in the House.
In the Lok Sabha, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra appealed for loan waivers for flood victims in Wayanad and condemned the alleged mistreatment of Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh. The Lok Sabha was later adjourned for the day.
The Monsoon Session remains tense and politically charged, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah expected to deliver the concluding remarks on Operation Sindoor later.
