As Parliament witnessed repeated adjournments on Monday, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi firmly stated that he would only address key issues within the Lok Sabha.
“If I speak, it will be inside (the House). I am aware of the adjournment, that’s why I am standing here (outside),” Gandhi told reporters, indicating that he would wait for proceedings to resume before speaking.
When urged to respond outside Parliament, Gandhi reiterated, “My opportunity (to speak) is inside.”
Both Houses of Parliament faced multiple adjournments throughout the morning amid loud protests by opposition MPs demanding debates on critical issues, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar, and the government’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which led to Operation Sindoor.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 1 PM and the Rajya Sabha till 2 PM, following uproar and sloganeering.
In the Rajya Sabha, MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was chairing, urged the Opposition to allow ministers to respond during Question Hour. Similarly, Union Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu expressed frustration over disruptions, saying, “They have not even asked the question, how will I reply?”
In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla admonished Opposition MPs who had entered the Well of the House just before the scheduled 16-hour debate on Operation Sindoor, asking them to return to their seats if they wished to participate.
“You ask for a discussion on Operation Sindoor, but then disrupt proceedings. Should I adjourn the House?” Birla asked before adjourning the session again.
Ahead of the debate, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju urged the Opposition not to politicize national security or echo the rhetoric of India’s adversaries.
“Do not speak in the language of Pakistan. We must uphold the dignity of our armed forces,” Rijiju appealed.
Operation Sindoor was India’s military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 civilian lives. The operation involved precision strikes on terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Since the start of the Monsoon Session on July 21, Parliament has seen frequent disruptions as the Opposition continues to demand accountability and debates on matters of national importance, including voter roll revisions, security lapses, and foreign policy.
