Centre Agrees To Opposition’s Demand For Debate On Operation Sindoor In Monsoon Session

Monsoon Session to begin July 21, with key national security and foreign policy issues on agenda.

Updated on: 20 July 2025 1:04 pm

The government briefs opposition leaders at an all-party meeting on Thursday over the success of "Operation Sindoor" and its aftermath. Photo: PTI

Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the government has agreed to the Opposition's demand for a debate on Operation Sindoor, a major counter-terror military action conducted by India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. The move comes after sustained pressure from the Opposition INDIA bloc, as reported by the Indian Express.

The Monsoon Session is scheduled to run from July 21 to August 21, with national security, foreign policy, and electoral processes expected to dominate the proceedings.

On Saturday, the Opposition bloc held a virtual strategy meeting with 24 participating parties, during which they identified eight critical issues they intend to raise during the session. These include the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, recent remarks by US President Donald Trump on a purported ceasefire deal, India’s foreign policy posture, and the Election Commission’s revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.

Senior leaders from major Opposition parties participated in the meeting, including Congress’s Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, K C Venugopal, and Jairam Ramesh; Ram Gopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party; Abhishek Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress; Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena (UBT); Sharad Pawar and Jayant Patil from the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction); Omar Abdullah of the National Conference; Hemant Soren of the JMM; Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD; and Tiruchi Siva from the DMK.

Left and regional parties were also represented, with D Raja (CPI), M A Baby (CPI-M), Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI-ML Liberation), Jose K Mani (Kerala Congress M), N K Premachandran (RSP), Thol. Thirumavalavan (VCK), and K M Kader Mohideen (IUML) in attendance.

This session marks the first major parliamentary gathering since the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 25 tourists and a local pony handler. Following the attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, a military response reportedly targeting terror infrastructure across the border in Pakistan.

With the Centre now conceding to a debate on Operation Sindoor, the upcoming session is set to witness heated discussions on national security, India’s diplomatic approach, and the handling of electoral processes in politically sensitive regions.