At the customary all-party meeting ahead of the session on Sunday, the Opposition unanimously demanded a discussion on Operation Sindoor, especially Trump’s claims of mediation during the four-day India-Pakistan conflict in May.
People familiar with the matter said a senior Union minister is likely to make a statement on Operation Sindoor in both Houses of Parliament.
Opposition parties also raised various other issues including Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections, an exercise that it claims threatens people’s voting rights, and the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack.
Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju told the media after the meeting that the government sought coordination with the Opposition for the smooth running of the month-long session. There should be government-Opposition coordination in running Parliament smoothly, he said.
He said the government is very much open to discussing issues like Operation Sindoor and will respond appropriately in Parliament to Opposition raising the issue of Trump’s ceasefire claims. However, he added that the ruling side would discuss all issues in line with rules and traditions.Congress’ Gaurav Gogoi said his party sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on Trump’s claims, “lapses” which led to the Pahalgam attack and the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar. He said it was incumbent on the PM to give a statement in Parliament on key issues raised by his party.Sanjay Singh of AAP said he raised the alleged “poll scam” of SIR in Bihar and Trump’s claim that he brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Responding to a question, he said the INDIA bloc was only for the Lok Sabha polls and that the AAP would contest assembly elections on its own.
BJD’s Sasmit Patra said the Centre can’t escape responsibility for the deteriorating law and order in states and that Parliament should debate it. He was referring to an incident of self-immolation by a college student and another case of a 15-year-old being set on fire by a group of men in Odisha.
CPI(M)’s John Brittas said the PM should speak in Parliament on Trump’s claims on Operation Sindoor and on the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
Leaders of various political parties attended the meeting chaired by Union minister and leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha JP Nadda. Rijiju and his junior minister Arjun Ram Meghwal also represented the government at the meeting.
INDIA bloc parties have resolved to raise during the monsoon session the issues of Pahalgam attack terrorists not being brought to justice, Trump’s repeated claims of mediation between India and Pakistan and the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar.
