As the Lok Sabha prepares for a marathon 16-hour discussion on Operation Sindoor, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has urged the Opposition, particularly the Congress, to refrain from making statements that could be exploited by India’s adversaries, warning against “speaking Pakistan’s language.”
In a statement to ANI, Rijiju said, “I request the Opposition, especially the Congress, not to say anything that harms India’s national interest or mirrors Pakistan’s rhetoric. We must uphold the dignity of the Indian Armed Forces.”
He reiterated the importance of maintaining a unified front during discussions of national security and stressed that the actions of political leaders are closely watched and often used by India’s enemies abroad.
“What the Opposition says against India is often used by Pakistan and other adversaries. This is not the time for political point-scoring. Operation Sindoor was launched by the Prime Minister to respond to a heinous terror attack, and it has the full support of the people,” Rijiju added.
The Lok Sabha is set to debate Operation Sindoor today, while the Rajya Sabha will take it up on Tuesday. The operation was India’s retaliatory military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed. The strikes targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to open the debate in the Lok Sabha around noon. A fiery exchange is anticipated between members of the ruling NDA and the INDIA bloc, especially following recent remarks from Congress leaders questioning the transparency of the operation and the origin of the terrorists.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament, which began on July 21, has already witnessed several disruptions over demands for discussions on public issues, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar and US President Donald Trump’s claims about brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
Rijiju emphasized that Operation Sindoor would be debated first, and only after that would discussions on other issues be considered.
“All issues cannot be taken up simultaneously. Operation Sindoor is the priority for now,” he clarified.
Meanwhile, leaders of the INDIA bloc are scheduled to meet at 10 AM today to chalk out their strategy for the week and prepare for the high-voltage debate in both Houses.
