Congress questions govt over Operation Sindoor, Pahalgam terror attack in Lok Sabha debate

Afer a week-long washout caused by disruptions in the Monsoon Session, the Lok Sabha on July 28 launched a 16-hour debate on Operation Sindoor — India’s military and diplomatic response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, including tourists.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh opened the debate with a forceful justification of the operation

He emphasized national resolve and derided critics for ignoring key outcomes such as enemy aircraft shot down, rather than asking tactical questions.

Rajnath also dismissed questions about Donald Trump’s mediation claims, declaring that India remains resolute against terrorism and external interference.

On the Opposition side, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi led the questioning, raising concerns about intelligence failures and how terrorists penetrated Pahalgam despite security protocols.

He challenged the narrative on operational mistakes, range of bombing runs, and timing of the ceasefire.

Rahul Gandhi (LoP, Lok Sabha) and Mallikarjun Kharge (LoP, Rajya Sabha) were expected to reinforce the Opposition’s critique, focusing on foreign policy messaging and security preparedness.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who led a high-profile outreach delegation following the terror attack, was excluded from speaking.

Sources confirm he declined to toe the party line opposing Operation Sindoor, stating he would not contradict his belief that the operation was successful, prompting Congress to drop him from the list of speakers.

Top ministers including Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and BJP MPs like Anurag Thakur, Nishikant Dubey, and others joined the ruling side in defending the operation’s strategic rationale.

PM Narendra Modi is expected to address the debate when he returns from an official tour later this week.