After a week of washout, will debate on Operation Sindoor bring order in the House?
On Friday (July 25), Opposition members, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, held a protest in the Parliament complex, tearing and disposing of SIR posters in the bin in a symbolic rejection of exercise.
Sloganeering continued once Lok Sabha resumed business for the day, leading to multiple adjournments. Later in the day, Lok Speaker Om Birla called a meeting of Lok Sabha floor leaders of parties with five or more MPs, seeking to put an end to the current parliamentary logjam. A consensus was reached, and Lok Sabha is expected to function normally from today. The Supreme Court hearing on the SIR, however, is scheduled for today, leaving slight possibilities open for new disruptions in House proceedings.
In the Rajya Sabha, new members from Tamil Nadu took oath in the Rajya Sabha. This included actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan, former Additional Advocate General and incumbent MP P. Wilson, poet Rajathi alias Salma, and S.R. Sivalingam – all backed by the DMK and its allies. AIADMK's I.S. Inbadurai and M. Dhanapal are expected to take oath today.
Discussion on any bill, however, did not take place, with quick adjournments following the start of business for the day. Chair Jagadambika Pal made an impassioned plea for peace in the House, stressing that Friday was the only day set aside for Private Members' Bills, and that several members wished to introduce bills on important subjects. He highlighted that the entire week had been washed out and asked members to go home over the weekend and ask their constituents if they wanted them to discuss issues or create furore in the house.
His pleas failed to cur the ice, and the House was adjourned for the day sans much progress. Since the passing of the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025 on the very first day of the Monsoon session (July 21, 2025), the Rajya Sabha has conducted little legislative business of note.
An unexpected development had also emerged in the form of the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, the de facto chair of the Rajya Sabha. Now, the secretary-general of the Rajya Sabha P.C Mody has been appointed as the returning officer for the vice presidential poll.
At the heart of the contention between the Centre and the outgoing vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar is the notice for impeachment motion against Justice Varma moved by the Opposition in Rajya Sabha. Government sources stated that the motion in the Rajya Sabha is not admissible on technical grounds, since it has incomplete paperwork. The motion is now expected to be taken up only in the Lok Sabha, where, if admitted, a three member-panel will be formulated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, comprising a Supreme Court Judge, a high court judge and an eminent jurist.
Follow along for live updates from Parliament here, as we keep an eye on what happens in both Houses today.
Until next time.
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