All Eyes on Parliament as ‘Op Sindoor’ Debate Heats Up, Tharoor Stays Quiet

Parliament Set for Fiery Debate on Pahalgam Attack, Operation Sindoor; Tharoor May Sit Out.

After days of disruption, Parliament is set to hold a major debate on the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor on Monday, with both the government and opposition expected to go head-to-head in the Monsoon Session’s most closely watched discussion yet.

However, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is unlikely to participate. Party sources said he has not submitted a formal request to speak, as required by the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP).
“MPs need to notify the CPP office if they wish to speak, and Tharoor has not done that,” a senior leader said.

Tharoor’s absence would be notable, given his recent rift with the party over his support for the government’s handling of the India-Pakistan standoff. He led a government-backed delegation abroad to defend India’s diplomatic position—moves that drew internal criticism within the Congress.

Top ministers including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and S. Jaishankar are expected to represent the government during the debate. While not officially confirmed, there are indications Prime Minister Narendra Modi may also intervene.

On the opposition side, it’s unclear who will open the debate if given the opportunity. Rahul Gandhi is considered a potential speaker, but he has previously deferred to others, including Gaurav Gogoi during last year’s no-confidence motion.

The two sides have agreed to a 16-hour debate across both Houses, focused on the government’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. Opposition leaders are expected to press the Centre over alleged intelligence failures and India’s diplomatic handling—particularly in light of former US President Donald Trump’s controversial claims about mediating between India and Pakistan, which the government has denied.