PM Modi-Rahul Gandhi faceoff, Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation & more: Parliament Monsoon session concludes; key highlights

Time of India

17 hours ago

File photo
NEW DELHI: The Parliament Monsoon Session wrapped up on Thursday with the same uproar it commenced on July 21, with opposition showing no sign of relenting on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar.
Adding to the tumult, the very first day of the Session brought a sudden shock with former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation, igniting speculation and necessitating an unanticipated poll for the post.
While the pause of
Operation Sindoor
and the Election Commission of India's (ECI) SIR process kept the opposition unbridled, the government's move to introduce a constitutional amendment Bill against "tainted" lawmakers compounded the chaos in the House.
PM Modi vs Rahul Gandhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi participated in the high-stakes Operation Sindoor debate, with both leaders trading barbs on one another.
While the Prime Minister tore into the Congress, accusing it of believing Pakistan more than its own government and army, Rahul Gandhi accused the government of "tying" the hands of Indian pilots, and alleged that Operation Sindoor was conducted only to "protect" the Prime Minister's image.
Jageep Dhankar steps down
Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden resignation as Vice President citing health reasons with two years remaining in his five-year term sparked intense speculation and conspiracy theories.
Dhankhar is only the third Vice President to resign before completing his term, after VV Giri and R Venkataraman. His unexpected exit on the first day of Parliament's Monsoon Session has left political observers searching for deeper explanations beyond "health reasons".
Yashwant Varma impeachment
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced the formation of a three-member committee to investigate allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma in connection with the 'cash-at-home' controversy.
The panel will include senior advocate PV Acharya of the Karnataka high court as the jurist member. SC judge Aravind Kumar, Madras HC Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava are the other members of the committee.
Row over SIR
All through the session, the INDIA bloc continued their protests against SIR, inside and outside Parliament, accusing the ECI of "vote theft".
Leaders who vocally criticised the exercise were Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, TMC MP Mahua Moitra, AAP MP Sanjay Singh.
The protests continued since the start of the session, with ruling party MPs accusing the opposition of disrupting proceedings. The anti-BJP bloc also protested with banners that read "Stop vote chori", and described the ongoing revision of electoral rolls as 'Silent invisible rigging.'
Bill against 'tainted' ministers
In Lok Sabha, Union home minister Amit Shah tabled a set of three bills, which provides for mandatory resignation or removal of the Prime Minister, chief ministers and ministers at the Centre and in states or Union Territories (UTs), if they have spent 30 consecutive days under arrest or detention, on an allegation of committing offences punishable with imprisonment extending to five years or more.
However, nothing will prevent such a Prime Minister, chief ministers or ministers from being subsequently appointed to the same office by the President or governor, upon their release from custody.
The timing of the amendments, two days before the end of Parliament's Monsoon session, and their implications caught political circles by surprise.
Bill to ban online money games
Parliament on Thursday passed The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, with the Rajya Sabha approving it without debate amid din. The bill, piloted by Minister of Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeks to ban all forms of online money games while promoting eSports and online social gaming.
It was approved by the Upper House after rejecting amendments moved by Opposition members.
The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. It also seeks to prohibit advertisements related to online money games and bar banks and financial institutions from facilitating or transferring funds for any of such games. Online money games are played by depositing money in expectation of winning monetary and other rewards.
NDA vs INDIA battle over VP post
For the first time since Independence, India's vice-presidential election will see both the ruling and opposition alliances fielding candidates from the South, highlighting the region's importance in national politics.
The NDA has nominated CP Radhakrishnan from Tamil Nadu, while the INDIA bloc has chosen Justice B Sudershan Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge from Telangana, as its candidate.
Political observers see these choices as more than symbolic.
For the BJP, the decision reflects its sharpened focus on Tamil Nadu, where it has long struggled to gain political ground.
For the INDIA bloc, nominating Justice Reddy not only highlights the South's growing parliamentary strength but also aligns with its campaign theme of 'saving democracy and the Constitution.
Lok Sabha passed 12 bills, Rajya Sabha 14
Twelve bills were passed by the Lok Sabha and 14 by the Rajya Sabha during the month-long Monsoon session of Parliament, which has witnessed repeated disruptions, adjournments and walkouts.
Barring discussions on Operation Sindoor in both House, the session has seen little business ever since it began on July 21 due to repeated disruptions and adjournments initially due to opposition demand for discussion on Operation Sindoor and then over demands for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision exercise in Bihar.
Om Birla pulls up opposition
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla concluded the proceedings and formally wrapped up the Monsoon Session.
In his final address on the last day of the Session, the Lok Sabha Speaker expressed concern over the lack of decorum and traditions in the House and criticised the opposition for "planned disruptions" and "sloganeering." He emphasised the need for dignified discussions.
Lok Sabha Speaker Birla attributed the House's limited productivity of 37 hours to "planned disruptions and ruckus," which fell short of the targeted 120 hours of discussion.