Parliament Monsoon Session 2025: During the heated discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Praniti Shinde triggered a political storm by referring to the military operation as a “tamasha” staged by the government for media attention. The remark was swiftly expunged from the official parliamentary records, a decision taken by the Lok Sabha Speaker, who holds the authority to remove language deemed inappropriate or irrelevant to parliamentary debate.
What did Praniti Shinde say?
Shinde, who represents Solapur, Maharashtra, and is the daughter of former Congress Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, sharply criticised the Centre for what she described as a lack of transparency on India’s military action on Pakistan.
“Operation Sindoor was nothing but a ‘tamasha’ of the government in the media. No one is telling us what was achieved in this Operation. How many terrorists were caught? How many fighter jets did we lose? Who is responsible and whose mistake is this, should be answered by the government…”, she said in her address.
#WATCH | During the discussion on Operation Sindoor in the House, Congress MP Praniti Shinde says, "… Operation Sindoor was nothing but a 'tamasha' of the government in the media. No one is telling us what was achieved in this Operation. How many terrorists were caught? How… pic.twitter.com/OQiAYkTMer
— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2025
Government defends military operation
In response, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh dismissed the Opposition’s line of questioning as misplaced. He argued that inquiries about potential aircraft losses or other operational setbacks did not reflect the sentiments of the Indian people. “If you must ask a question, ask whether India destroyed terrorist bases; the answer is yes. Ask whether any of our brave soldiers were harmed; the answer is no. Ask whether the operation was a success; the answer is, absolutely,” Singh said.
He further underscored that Operation Sindoor, launched on 7 May in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, was a precision strike on nine terror hubs located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan. Over 100 terrorists were eliminated, he claimed, and a cessation of hostilities was agreed upon between India and Pakistan on 10 May.
The debate saw a clear division in opinion. While the Opposition leaders questioned the transparency and political framing of the operation, several ruling alliance MPs passionately supported the government’s stand.
“This is a new India”: LJP MP Shambhavi Choudhary’s Op Sindoor defence
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP Shambhavi Choudhary delivered a strong defence of Operation Sindoor. “This is a new India. And after a terrorist attack, this India does not light candles; it lights the pyres of its enemies,” she declared. Choudhary also warned against politicising terrorism and national defence, noting, “Even today, there are people in our country who feel more sad for Palestine than Pahalgam, because it suits their politics.”
The debate over Operation Sindoor continues to divide the Parliament, with the government portraying it as a strategic triumph and the Opposition demanding greater accountability and transparency.
Parliament Monsoon Session
Meanwhile, Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc will stage a protest at Parliament’s Makar Dwar on Tuesday at 10:30 AM, demanding accountability from the Centre over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in poll-bound Bihar. The government has reportedly agreed to include the issue in the Lok Sabha Business Advisory Committee meeting, opening the door for a possible debate. The Opposition continues to question the transparency and verification process of the SIR. On Monday, repeated disruptions in both Houses reflected the growing standoff between the government and Opposition over the matter.