A day before Parliament begins its high-voltage debate on the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reaffirmed India’s firm resolve against terrorism, declaring that the precision strikes on terror hubs in Pakistan were a clear message — “there are no safe havens for terrorists and their masters.”
Speaking at an event in Tamil Nadu’s Gangaikonda Cholapuram to honour Chola emperor Rajendra Chola, PM Modi said, “India places the highest priority on its national security. Operation Sindoor has created a new sense of awakening and self-confidence across the country.”
The Prime Minister added that the world had witnessed India’s decisive response to threats against its sovereignty. His strong remarks appear to have set the tone for the government’s aggressive defence in the upcoming debate in both Houses of Parliament starting Monday.
Fiery Debate Expected as Govt and Opposition Lock Horns
With the Monsoon Session of Parliament having begun with disruptions, the two sides have now agreed to a marathon 16-hour debate in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The discussion will cover the Pahalgam attack — in which several tourists were killed — and India’s retaliatory operation.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to open the debate in the Lok Sabha after Question Hour. Sources indicate that Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will also weigh in. There are indications that PM Modi himself may intervene to underline his government’s “robust” stand on national security.
On the Opposition side, Rahul Gandhi (Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha) and Mallikarjun Kharge (LoP in Rajya Sabha) are set to lead the charge, along with leaders such as Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav and others from the INDIA bloc.
Opposition’s Strategy: Shift Focus from Sindoor to Security Lapses
While the government plans to showcase Operation Sindoor as a decisive act of strength, the opposition — led by the Congress — is expected to turn the spotlight on what they claim is a pattern of national security failures under PM Modi’s leadership.
The opposition is likely to raise a series of terror attacks — including Uri, Pulwama, and now Pahalgam — to argue that India has remained vulnerable to cross-border threats during the Modi years, despite repeated claims of “zero tolerance” for terror.
The Congress is also likely to question why the Operation Sindoor mission was halted abruptly and why Parliament wasn’t consulted earlier.
Trump Factor Enters Debate
In a new twist, Congress has brought in former US President Donald Trump’s controversial claim that he stopped Operation Sindoor. On Sunday, party leader Jairam Ramesh posted on social media that “since May 10, Trump has claimed 26 times that he stopped Operation Sindoor by threatening to cut off trade with India, and claimed that five Indian fighter jets may have been shot down.”
Ramesh pointed out that despite Congress’s demand for a special two-day session of Parliament following the operation’s sudden halt, no such session was called. “Nevertheless, better late than never,” he added.
Religious Targeting in Pahalgam Attack
In a sensitive and politically charged point, the Opposition may also highlight reports suggesting that the Pahalgam terrorists singled out tourists based on religion — a narrative they had previously avoided due to fears of polarization. This time, however, Congress and its allies are expected to bring it up in order to challenge the government’s handling of internal security.
With strong rhetoric, high stakes, and deep political undercurrents, the debate on Operation Sindoor is expected to be among the most consequential of the session — with the government looking to reinforce its nationalist credentials and the opposition aiming to expose perceived lapses.
