The Centre on Sunday indicated its willingness to discuss on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, a key Opposition demand at an all-party meeting on eve of the Monsoon Session, even as the INDIA bloc insisted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should respond on the matter as well as on the US President’s ‘ceasefire’ claims and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar.
Sources, however, said the PM is unlikely to respond in Parliament on these issues. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju asserted that the Government will reply appropriately whenever a discussion takes place on US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire claims on the India-Pakistan conflict.
The session is likely to see a detailed statement on Operation Sindoor by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who held two key meetings on Friday evening with his ministerial colleagues and another with top military brass.
Several leaders, including those from the NDA, also want a discussion to highlight the achievements of the Government’s foreign outreach through various Parliamentary delegations on Operation Sindoor. After the customary all-party meeting ahead of the session beginning Monday, Rijiju said that the Government has sought the opposition’s cooperation in the smooth running of Parliament during the month-long session.
There should be Government-opposition coordination in running Parliament smoothly, Rijiju told reporters after the meeting chaired by Union Minister JP Nadda. He said they heard the opposition and ruling NDA alliance members patiently and hoped the upcoming session would be very productive. As many as 54 leaders of different parties and Independent MPs participated in today’s all-party meeting.
“We are very open to a discussion on important issues like Operation Sindoor. These are issues of great national importance. The Government is not shying away and will never shy away, but is open to discussions within rules, conventions,” Rijiju asserted. Noting that the Government accords importance to niyam (rules) and parampara (conventions), he said the matters raised at the meeting would be taken up at the Business Advisory Committee of both houses, where a final decision would be taken.
“We have noted all the points. We have requested all parties (to ensure) the Parliament functions properly. Have to ensure coordination. It is the responsibility of all to help Parliament function,” he said. Rijiju also said that the government has noted the demand for allocation of more time to parties with fewer MPs to speak in Parliament.
“We will try and provide adequate time to all, including smaller parties,” he said. On the opposition’s demand for PM Modi to make a statement on the Pahalgam attack, Rijiju said, “I want to make it clear that the prime minister remains in Parliament except during foreign travel. The PM always remains in Parliament, but the prime minister does not remain in the House all the time. “Whenever Parliament functions, cabinet ministers are present to respond to issues concerning their departments.” Rijiju said the Government is bringing 17 key bills, details of which would be provided soon.
After the meeting, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi told reporters that his party sought Prime Minister statement on Trump’s claims, “lapses” which led to the Pahalgam attack and SIR of poll rolls in Bihar.
He said it was incumbent and moral responsibility of PM Modi to give a statement in Parliament on key issues raised by his party. Gogoi said questions have been raised on SIR and EC, and not giving answers will put a shadow of doubt on the fairness of the poll process and future elections. It is the prime minister’s duty to clarify the government’s stand in Parliament, he said.
He also referred to several armed forces officers raising the issue of a two-pronged attack by China and Pakistan and sought a discussion. Gogoi also sought a discussion on the Manipur situation, “where violence has not ended even after 2.5 years”.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh said he raised the alleged “poll scam” of SIR in Bihar. He also raised Trump’s claim that he brokered a ‘ceasefire’ between India and Pakistan. Responding to a question, he said the INDIA bloc was only for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, and the AAP is contesting assembly polls on its own ever since. AAP had stayed away from the online meeting of the opposition bloc on Saturday.
Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav said that Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor’s admission of intelligence failure in Pahalgam is a “serious issue”. He said India has never allowed third-party mediation on Pakistan and claims by Trump need to be clarified by the government.
CPI(M)’s John Brittas and Supriya Sule of NCP-Sharad Pawar demanded that the prime minister respond in Parliament on the issues of Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor and Bihar’s SIR. BJD’s Sasmit Patra said the Centre can’t escape responsibility for the “failing” law and order in states and demanded a discussion in Parliament during the upcoming session.
National Conference MP Altaaf Hussain said he raised issues of Jammu and Kashmir. Gogoi, Jairam Ramesh, Pramod Tiwari of Congress, Supriya Sule of NCP-Sharad Pawar, DMK’s T R Baalu and Tiruchi Siva, AIADMK’s M Thambidurai, SAD’s Harsimrat Badal, SP’s Ram Gopal Yadav, RPI (A) leader and Union minister Ramdas Athawale were among those who attended the meeting.
100 MPs sign notice to bring motion against Justice Varma
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday said over 100 MPs have already signed a notice to bring a motion in Parliament for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma, crossing the threshold of support required for tabling the impeachment exercise in the LS.
“The signature (exercise) is underway and it has crossed 100 already,” Rijiju told reporters after the all-party meeting, while adding that it is for the Business Advisory Committee, a group of parties which finalises the agenda in their respective Houses, to decide when the motion will be moved. A motion for the removal of a judge has to be signed by not less than 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 50 in the Rajya Sabha. The motion is likely to be brought in the Lower House.
With Parliament’s Monsoon Session beginning from Monday, the Government has made it clear that it will bring the motion during this sitting of Parliament and has been receiving support from different parties, including the opposition, in this move against “corruption in the judiciary”.
“I cannot comment on any business in terms of priority because until the matter is passed by the BAC with the Chair’s approval, it is difficult for me to make an announcement outside,” Rijiju said when asked if the motion may be brought in the first week of the session. He had earlier said all the political parties are on board with the move to remove Varma.
“Corruption in the judiciary is an extremely sensitive and serious matter because the judiciary is where people get justice. If there is corruption in the judiciary, it is a serious concern for everybody. That is why the motion for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma is to be signed by all the political parties,” he had said. A big haul of burnt wads of currency was discovered at the outhouse of then-Delhi High Court Justice Varma by emergency service providers following a fire incident on his premises in March. A committee of three high court judges appointed by then Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna had indicted him. Khanna referred the matter to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recommending Varma’s removal after he refused to resign. Varma, who was subsequently repatriated to the Allahabad High Court and has been kept off judicial work, has protested his innocence and has moved the apex court against the committee’s findings.
