New Delhi, Jul 21 (KNO): The Monsoon Session of Parliament began on Monday with Members of the Lok Sabha observing a two-minute silence to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in two recent tragedies — the Pahalgam terror attack and the Air India AI-171 crash.
The Pahalgam attack on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir claimed 26 lives, while the June 12 crash of the Air India flight resulted in 260 fatalities. Lawmakers stood in silence to honour the victims before taking up the session’s agenda.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the media, describing the Monsoon Session as a “celebration of victory,” citing the success of Operation Sindoor.
He said the mission carried out by Indian defence forces, achieved its goals within 22 minutes, targeting and destroying structures linked to terror masterminds. He added that this operation has drawn global attention to India's military capability and the strength of its domestic defence sector.
“When the Parliament speaks in one voice during this session, it will support military morale, encourage citizens, and contribute to progress in defence research, innovation, and manufacturing,” he added.
He also said that security forces are making steady progress in eliminating Maoists and Naxalites and that several previously affected districts are now free from such activities, and the Constitution is prevailing over violence.
He urged MPs across parties to ensure smooth functioning of the house and that interests may vary, but national interest must remain the shared priority.
Meanwhile, both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha witnessed continuous sloganeering by Opposition MPs demanding a discussion on the recent Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
Reacting to the protests, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee has been scheduled to decide the agenda for discussion.
“The government is ready for a discussion, but Opposition MPs are protesting in the Well of the House. It is not appropriate to begin the session like this,” Rijiju said.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, questioned the government over its response to the Pahalgam terror attack and asked for clarity on the current status of the militants involved.
Kharge said the Opposition had extended full support to the Centre following the incident but emphasized the need for accountability, especially in light of the acknowledged intelligence failure. “Even the Army chief and the government have admitted lapses. The country deserves to know what went wrong,” he told the House.
He also took sharp exception to recent comments by former US President Donald Trump, who reportedly spoke of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor. “It’s unacceptable for any outsider to make such claims. This is an insult to our sovereignty,” Kharge said.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, BJP leader and Union Minister JP Nadda said the government was fully prepared to hold a detailed discussion on Operation Sindoor.
“We are willing and ready to talk about it. There should be no perception that we are avoiding a debate,” Nadda said, adding that the scale and execution of the operation under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership was unprecedented. “This kind of mission has never been carried out before. We will share every detail,” he told the House.
This year's Monsoon Session will run until August 21, with a scheduled recess from August 12 to 18. The session includes 21 sittings over 32 days—(KNO)