Parliament monsoon session: LS adjourned again till 4 pm amid opposition's protest

New Delhi: The monsoon session of Parliament has commenced on Monday, when the INDIA Bloc-led opposition demands discussions on the Pahalgam attack, Trump’s claims on the India-Pakistan Ceasefire, and several other issues. Lok Sabha was adjourned around 11.20 am as the members of the opposition started sloganeering on various issues. Though the Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla tried to pacify the protesters, they refused to obey him. Following this, he adjourned the house till 2 pm.

When it reconvened in the afternoon, opposition protest continued forcing the chair to adjourn it till 4 pm. 

In the morning, Speaker Om Birla said he was ready to allow the members to raise all issues, including Operation Sindoor, after Question Hour, the first hour of the day where members raise questions related to different ministries and department.

"I will allow you to raise all issues after Question Hour. The House will function only through rules and regulations. It cannot allow sloganeering and raising of placards," he said.

Birla said if the members give notice, he will alow them to raise all issues and will give enough time to each of the MP to raise the issues.

"Honourable members, this is Question Hour. We must try to maintain high parliamentary standards. We must try to fulfil the hopes and expectations of the people who have elected us and debate and discuss important issues of the country," he said.
The speaker said the members are not allowed to shout slogans inside the House or show the placards.

"You want discussion on Operation Sindoor, I will allow after the Question Hour. The government is ready to give reply to all issues," he said.

But ignoring his order, the opposition continued to protest and some Congress MPs marched to the well of the house.

The session which will continue till August 21 will have a total of 21 sittings. According to All India Radio, a total of 17 Bills are expected to be taken up for discussion and passage. Important legislations including Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill – 2025, the National Sports Governance Bill – 2025 and the Merchant Shipping Bill- 2024 will be taken up.

The Bills of Lading Bill- 2024, The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill- 2024, The Coastal Shipping Bill- 2024, The Indian Ports Bill-2025, The Income-tax Bill- 2025, are also likely to be discussed in the house. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi were among those present in the House.

INDIA Bloc demands PM's response on Pahalgam attack, Trump's claims
Days before the commencement of the session, Congress said Prime Minister Narendra Modi owes it to the country to be present when the issue of 'Pahalgam-Operation Sindoor-President Trump' is finally taken up for discussion. On July 19, the leaders of 24 opposition parties of the bloc held an online meeting where they decided to raise eight major issues like foreign policy "failure" and "atrocities" in Gaza, delimitation exercise and "targeting" of SCs/STs, women and minorities in the country.

Addressing the media after the meeting, the Congress' deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, Pramod Tiwari, said the opposition parties would expect the prime minister to be present in Parliament and respond to the issues raised on the floor of the House, asserting that "Parliament is more important than travelling abroad".

The INDIA Bloc parties held deliberations to reach a consensus on issues that they would raise to corner the government during Parliament's Monsoon session beginning July 21 and to convey a message of unity. Leaders of 24 political parties, including the Congress, TMC, DMK, RJD, SP, NCP-SP, Shiv Sena (UBT), JMM, CPI-M, CPI, CPI-ML, Forward Bloc, IUML and Kerala Congress, participated in the discussions.

Apart from Pahalgam and Trump’s claims, the opposition will raise the issue of SIR in Bihar, alleging that the BJP and the Election Commission are using it in the form of "backdoor NRC". The push to impeach Justice Yashwant Varma, who is embroiled in a row following the discovery of burnt wads of currency notes at his residence after a fire incident, would also be raised in the session. The opposition leaders decided that in case the ruling party brings a motion for the removal of Justice Varma, they will press for early action against Justice Shekhar Yadav against whom a notice for removal is already pending in the Rajya Sabha since December 2024, sources said.

The Congress has resolved to take up issues like the demand for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, besides raising farmers' problems, unemployment and rising prices.