The ongoing monsoon session of Parliament has been marked by heated debates and disruptions, particularly surrounding the discussion on "Operation Sindoor," the government's military response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack. Opposition parties have raised concerns about the handling of the debate, leading to accusations of mishandling and political maneuvering. Simultaneously, issues like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during crucial discussions have added fuel to the fire.
"Operation Sindoor" refers to a cross-border counter-terrorism operation launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which resulted in the death of 22 people. The government, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has hailed the operation as a swift and decisive strike against terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Singh emphasized that the operation, which reportedly neutralized over 100 terrorists in a 22-minute coordinated strike, demonstrated India's "decisive strength" and "moral clarity" under Prime Minister Modi's leadership.
However, the opposition has been critical of the government's narrative, raising questions about the circumstances leading to the Pahalgam attack and the overall internal security situation. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, leading the opposition's charge, directly challenged Rajnath Singh, questioning how terrorists managed to reach Pahalgam despite the presence of extensive security measures. Gogoi highlighted the alleged intelligence failures and questioned the government's inability to prevent the attack, despite having access to advanced surveillance technology. He also pointed out the delayed response in providing medical assistance to the victims.
The debate on "Operation Sindoor" was initially delayed due to protests by opposition MPs demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar. The opposition alleges that the SIR exercise is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise voters opposed to the ruling alliance and benefit the BJP. They demanded an assurance from the government that the SIR issue would be discussed immediately after the "Operation Sindoor" debate. The government's refusal to provide this assurance led to a deadlock and repeated adjournments in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the opposition's last-minute demand, calling it a tactic to avoid discussing "Operation Sindoor".
Adding to the controversy, Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence from the "Operation Sindoor" debate. Azad argued that if the Prime Minister was serious about the issue, he should have been present in Parliament.
The opposition's approach to the "Operation Sindoor" debate and their insistence on discussing the SIR issue have drawn mixed reactions. Some accuse them of politicizing national security matters and disrupting parliamentary proceedings. Others argue that raising questions about internal security failures and demanding discussions on critical issues like voter roll revisions is a legitimate exercise of their role as the opposition. The disruptions and accusations of mishandling have raised concerns about the overall functioning of Parliament and the ability of the government and opposition to engage in constructive dialogue on important issues.
