Congress and INDIA bloc members staged a dramatic Rajya Sabha walkout demanding PM Modi’s presence during the Operation Sindoor debate. Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the move, accusing the Opposition of avoiding accountability on national security and defending the government’s right to decide its speaker in Parliament.
In a dramatic turn of events during a heated Rajya Sabha session on Wednesday, the Congress party and other members of the INDIA bloc staged a coordinated walkout, demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direct response on issues surrounding Operation Sindoor. The incident unfolded just as Union Home Minister Amit Shah began responding to the Opposition’s questions during a scheduled debate on the counter-terror operation.
Despite assurances from Home Minister Shah that all queries would be addressed thoroughly, Opposition members continued to disrupt proceedings, raising slogans such as “PM ko bulao” (Call the Prime Minister), and accused the government of evading accountability. Their agitation brought the session to a halt and underscored the growing tension between the government and the Opposition over national security issues.
Home Minister’s Firm Stance
“You have to deal with me first. Why do you want to call the PM? You will have more difficulty,” Shah remarked sharply, responding to the sloganeering. Emphasising that Prime Minister Modi was “very much in office,” Shah questioned the logic behind insisting on the Prime Minister’s physical presence when the Union Home Minister was answering in his official capacity.
HM Shah insisted that the government had nothing to hide and pointed out that the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), which includes Opposition members, had already agreed that the government would decide who would respond after the debate. “It was decided that the discussion will happen for as long as the Opposition wanted, but the response would be given as per the government’s decision,” he said, accusing the Congress of backing out only to avoid uncomfortable truths.
Leader of Opposition Reiterates Demand
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, took a firm stand, reiterating the demand for Prime Minister Modi to personally respond. “The questions pertain to PM Modi. I’m not saying you (Shah) are not capable of answering. But if PM Modi, being in Delhi, does not come here, this is disrespect of the Rajya Sabha,” Kharge declared before leading the Opposition’s walkout.
The symbolic exit was intended to highlight what the INDIA bloc termed as the government’s disregard for parliamentary decorum and accountability. However, critics within the ruling alliance saw it as a tactical evasion, accusing the Opposition of being unwilling to engage in meaningful debate.
Amit Shah Calls Out Congress ‘Double Standards’
Undeterred by the walkout, HM Amit Shah continued his speech, turning his criticism toward the Congress party. He accused the Opposition of having a legacy of “appeasement politics” that, according to him, weakened India’s war on terror. He reiterated his stance from the Lok Sabha session a day prior, where he had stated that previous Congress-led governments had diluted key anti-terror laws for vote-bank gains, thereby compromising national security.
“This is the same party that sought proof of surgical strikes and airstrikes. And now, they are unwilling to even sit through a discussion on Operation Sindoor, which was a powerful response to terrorism,” Shah said, drawing a sharp contrast between the current government’s approach to national security and that of previous regimes.
Operation Sindoor: India’s Bold Counter-Terror Stand
Even in the absence of Opposition members, Shah continued to lay out the details of Operation Sindoor, describing it as a strategically decisive move to eliminate terror threats at their roots. He noted that India’s counter-terror capabilities have evolved significantly under the current leadership, and reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting national integrity — even if that means taking the battle across the border.
He concluded by reaffirming the government’s position that national security cannot be compromised for political gain. “Operation Sindoor was not just an operation; it was a message to enemies of the nation that India will not tolerate terrorism, wherever it originates,” he said.
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The Rajya Sabha uproar has further deepened the political divide over how India approaches national security debates. While the government defended its institutional protocol and resolve in fighting terrorism, the Opposition’s walkout signalled ongoing distrust and dissatisfaction with the executive’s approach to parliamentary accountability. With general elections looming, the standoff could become a pivotal flashpoint in the broader political discourse.
