Congress storms the Well, BJP digs in heels, and yet another session kicks off in political uproar
It was supposed to be a day of legislative work. Instead, it turned into a shouting match. As Parliament’s Monsoon Session got underway on Monday, all eyes were on the fallout from “Operation Sindoor”—and neither the Lok Sabha nor the Rajya Sabha saw any meaningful business conducted.
Tempers flared within minutes of the Houses assembling. The Congress-led Opposition demanded a suspension of routine proceedings to discuss the alleged surveillance campaign targeting its Rajasthan leader Bhajan Lal Sharma. What followed was political theatre, high-pitched slogans, and adjournments that ran through the day.
Operation Sindoor Dominates the Airwaves—and the House
The term “Operation Sindoor” might sound like a military campaign, but in political Delhi, it’s become the newest lightning rod. The Congress claims it’s a full-blown surveillance operation, allegedly mounted to destabilize state governments and target rivals.
Even before the Speaker took his seat, Opposition MPs rushed to the Well of the Lok Sabha. Chanting slogans and waving placards, they demanded a dedicated debate on the matter.
At the centre of it all: purported audio recordings and WhatsApp chats suggesting tracking of political figures and an internal push to trigger defection within Rajasthan BJP. The Congress said it was an “assault on democracy.” The BJP dismissed it as “drama” and accused the Opposition of stalling the session for political mileage.
Nothing moved after that.
Day One Business? Zero.
Let’s be blunt: not a single legislative item made it to the floor on Monday. The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned multiple times amid sloganeering and protests.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how the day unfolded:
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Lok Sabha: Speaker Om Birla tried to maintain order but adjourned the House repeatedly. By afternoon, it was adjourned for the day.
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Rajya Sabha: Similar scenes played out. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar condemned the disruption, calling it “unbecoming of elected representatives,” but to no avail.
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Zero Hour: Ironically, it turned out to be a “zero-output” hour.
One sentence sums it up: chaos reigned supreme.
Why the Opposition Smells Blood
To understand the heat, rewind a bit. Operation Sindoor became public after leaked audio tapes surfaced, allegedly revealing internal political manipulation and surveillance by the BJP.
The Congress alleges it was part of a broader plan to fracture Opposition ranks ahead of key state polls. They claim that Bhajan Lal Sharma, the Leader of the Opposition in Rajasthan, was under watch from within his own party—an effort, they say, to unearth potential defectors.
For the Congress, it’s a two-in-one opportunity: slam the BJP and paper over their own internal cracks by presenting themselves as victims of “state-backed espionage.”
The BJP’s response? A mix of dismissal and counterattack. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the Congress was “fabricating stories” to derail Parliament’s functioning.
But the public mood—especially with the General Elections just nine months away—is shifting. If more details emerge, it could be a PR headache for the ruling party.
Government’s Legislative Agenda Faces Rough Weather
Amid the shouting and finger-pointing, the government’s Monsoon Session agenda lies in limbo. A slew of bills was lined up, including:
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The Digital India Bill
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Data Protection Legislation
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A key amendment to the Forest Conservation Act
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Supplementary Demands for Grants
None of it came up on Monday. At this rate, more adjournments seem inevitable, and the legislative backlog is only growing. Opposition MPs have already warned that unless Operation Sindoor is debated on the floor, they will continue to stall proceedings.
Here’s how the schedule looked versus what was actually done:
| Item Scheduled | Status |
|---|---|
| Question Hour | Disrupted |
| Zero Hour | Disrupted |
| Legislative Business | Not Taken Up |
| Opposition Day Motion | Not Introduced |
| Operation Sindoor Discussion | Not Allowed |
TMC, DMK, Others Join Chorus; NDA Closes Ranks
It’s not just the Congress. Trinamool Congress (TMC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and even Left parties demanded clarity over the alleged internal surveillance.
Sudip Bandyopadhyay of TMC called it “beyond troubling” and pushed for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). DMK’s Tiruchi Siva echoed the call for a high-level probe.
Yet, the NDA stayed in formation. BJP MPs, backed by allies like JD(U) and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, defended the government’s stand that no such operation existed.
At one point, heated words were exchanged between TMC MP Mahua Moitra and BJP’s Nishikant Dubey in the Rajya Sabha lobby. That tells you where things stand.
Is This the New Normal for Indian Parliament?
You might ask—has this become just another session marred by drama? Probably yes.
Parliamentary disruptions have become almost routine. Since 2014, opposition walkouts, ruling party stonewalling, and shouting contests have reduced debate time by over 50%, as per PRS Legislative Research data.
This session might not be any different, unless both sides dial it down. But with state polls in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand looming, that’s a long shot.
One MP from an Opposition party—speaking off the record—put it bluntly: “The BJP won’t blink. And neither will we. So buckle up.”
