Monsoon Session: Opposition to flag 'intel lapses', 'Trump role'; brace for patriotic counter

Opposition speakers are planning a multi-pronged attack on the government in Monday's parliamentary debate on the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor against Pakistan.

The Opposition said it will try to pin down the government by blaming the Union home ministry for intelligence failures behind the Pahalgam civilian killings and target Prime Minister Narendra Modi by citing US President Trump's repeated claims of pressuring India into a ceasefire linked to trade talks. However, it also faces the challenge of the PM and ruling benches turning the debate into a wave of nationalist fervour-through Pakistan-bashing, projecting Operation Sindoor as another Modi-led triumph over Pakistan-sponsored terror after the previous surgical strikes, praising the forces and the PM's leadership, and urging the Opposition not to dim the nation's "victory glow."

Most senior Opposition leaders are expected to join the debate in both Houses. Congress sources said Gaurav Gogoi will open for the Opposition, while likely Lok Sabha speakers include Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi (on Tuesday), Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, KC Venugopal, and Manish Tewari. Akhilesh Yadav (SP), Kanimozhi (DMK), and Abhishek Banerjee (Trinamool) are also expected to speak. There is curiosity over whether the outspoken Shashi Tharoor will get Gandhi's nod to represent the party. The tone of Opposition MPs who joined the government-led global outreach after Operation Sindoor will also be closely watched.


The INDIA bloc floor leaders will meet on Monday morning, ahead of the debate, to firm up their coordination. The Opposition MPs will enter the Houses after staging dharna outside against SIR issue of Bihar.

The Opposition campers said their speakers will demand from the PM to explain why he "abruptly halted " the Operation Sindoor when our forces were striking deeper into Pakistan's strategic assets and will accuse him of having been pressured by President Trump to do so. They will also challenge the PM to clarify his position vis-a-vis Trump's ceasefire claims. They will cite the Pahalgam killings, and the failure to nab the terrorists responsible for it, and the previous terror incidents in Poonch, Gangagir and Gulmarg to question the Modi government's claim of having restored normalcy in J&K.