The Monsoon Session of Parliament witnessed intense political sparring as national security, foreign policy, and accountability over terror attacks dominated discussions in both Houses. From counter-operations in Pakistan to questions over government transparency, the day saw emotionally charged speeches, sharp rebuttals, and revived historical debates.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah opened the debate in the Lok Sabha by detailing Operation Mahadev, a recent counter-terror strike in Jammu & Kashmir that neutralised three militants allegedly linked to the April 22 Pahalgam attack. He criticized the Congress for seeking proof of Pakistan’s involvement, particularly calling out senior leader P Chidambaram.
Amit Shah’s remarks set the tone for a fiery session, with opposition leaders demanding answers over both the timing and effectiveness of these operations.
Akhilesh Yadav Questions Intelligence, Calls Sindoor a Symbol of Failure
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav raised serious concerns about intelligence lapses. “Who takes responsibility for the fact that the Pahalgam attack happened in the first place?” he asked, describing Operation Sindoor not as a show of strength, but a "symbol of the government's intelligence failure." Yadav also questioned why the operation was timed closely with Parliament proceedings.
Priyanka Gandhi Slams Security Vacuum During Pahalgam Attack
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra pressed the government on what she called a “security vacuum” in the Valley. “How was there no security detail when the April 22 attack happened? The Defence Minister gave a long lecture yesterday, but skipped this critical point,” she said. She also criticised the government’s delayed response and failure to prevent civilian and military casualties.
Rahul Gandhi: 'You Tied the Hands of Our Pilots'
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi made one of the most scathing speeches of the day, alleging that the government compromised the integrity of Operation Sindoor by informing Pakistan just minutes after the strikes. He accused the leadership of undermining India’s armed forces by telling pilots not to target Pakistani air defence systems.
“You guaranteed that our aircraft would be shot down. Why were our pilots’ hands tied?” he asked. He also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to publicly denounce Donald Trump for falsely claiming to have mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan—an assertion India has officially denied on multiple occasions.
PM Modi Responds: 'April 22 Was Avenged in 22 Minutes'
In a forceful address to the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Modi celebrated the success of Operation Sindoor, stating that India had sent a clear message to terror sponsors across the border. “April 22 was avenged in just 22 minutes,” he declared, praising the armed forces for their precision and bravery.
The PM also slammed the Congress for what he called “historic blunders” and a lack of commitment to national security. He accused the party of having no clear vision and reiterated that “Operation Sindoor is not the end, but a warning — that India will continue to retaliate until Pakistan stops aiding terrorism.”
Chidambaram Fires Back: Was Sindoor Truly Decisive?
P. Chidambaram, speaking in Rajya Sabha, acknowledged that Operation Sindoor was “successful,” but questioned whether it had any long-term strategic impact. “Only time will tell if it was decisive,” he said. He also reiterated Rahul Gandhi’s demand for the Prime Minister to publicly reject Trump’s mediation claims, asking why India’s leader stayed silent on the global stage.
Other Key Moments:
Shashi Tharoor, when asked to comment on PM Modi's remarks, refused to speak, stating: “I am not making any comment on this topic.”
PM Modi took a dig at the Opposition by alleging that “some Congress leaders were barred from speaking” because they had put forward India's case on Operation Sindoor globally — causing discomfort within their own ranks.
The PM revived historic grievances, calling the Indus Water Treaty "Nehru's biggest blunder" and lambasting Congress over the Batla House encounter, stating a senior leader had tears in her eyes during the operation.
On Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Modi asked, “Those asking why we haven’t reclaimed PoK must answer: who allowed it to be taken in the first place?
