Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the Centre was open to holding discussions on any topic of national importance, including Operation Sindoor.
The Centre on Sunday signalled its willingness to discuss Operation Sindoor in Parliament and indicated that it might also respond to US President Donald Trump’s claim of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan as the Opposition sharpened its demands during an all-party meeting ahead of the monsoon session.
Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the Centre was open to holding discussions on any topic of national importance, including Operation Sindoor—India’s direct military response to the Pahalgam terror attack—during the session, which begins on Monday.
“We are open to discuss important issues such as Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack. These issues are of great importance to the nation. The government will never shy away from a discussion,” he said after the meeting.
During the meeting, which was attended by 54 leadersfrom across parties, the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Left parties, NCP(SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) sought a debate on Operation Sindoor, people aware of the matter said. According to two leaders, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, a member of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), also favoured a discussion on the issue.
The Congress demanded a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Operation Sindoor and Trump’s claims. “We have hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the country from the House. There are important issues like the Pahalgam attack and the security lapse [which led to it]… The statements coming from the US President in some way, raise questions on the dignity of India, the bravery of the Indian Army,” Congress’s deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said. He added that the Opposition will also seek answers from the government on the ongoing voter roll drive in Bihar.
People aware of the matter said that it was not immediately clear if the PM will reply on the issues and added that defence minister Rajnath Singh might present a detailed statement on Operation Sindoor.
Rijiju added that the “government will respond appropriately in Parliament” to US President Trump’s claim that he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after the recent conflict.
“When we start discussing the matter, we will make a statement. Whether it is the US President or anyone, I can’t give any reply now. When there is a discussion, a reply will be given,” he said and added that the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) will decide which issues will be discussed. To be sure, Indian officials have repeatedly denied Trump’s claim and maintained that the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was finalised without any mediation by the US.
The session will be the first sitting of the House since the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. The government is expected to highlight the success of the military response, including the destruction of terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and project the operation as setting a “new normal” in India’s anti-terror strategy, people aware of the matter said. The Opposition, on the other hand, planned to question the Centre over what it has called “intelligence failures” leading to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which left 26 civilians dead, and over Trump’s comments, they added.
