Parliament Monsoon Session 2025: As the Lok Sabha prepares for an intense three-day debate on Operation Sindoor, speculation is swirling around the absence of two high-profile Congress MPs — Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari — from the party’s speakers’ list. Despite playing a prominent role in India’s global outreach following the operation, both leaders are unlikely to speak in Parliament on the issue.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, when asked by reporters this morning whether he would address the House during the debate, cryptically replied, “Maunvrat, maunvrat…” (vow of silence). Sources within the Congress claim Tharoor was asked to participate in the debate but declined.
Internal rift or strategy shift?
Party insiders suggest that Tharoor’s stance during Operation Sindoor, where he publicly supported the government and led diplomatic efforts to highlight Pakistan’s involvement in cross-border terror, may have caused friction within party ranks. Some believe this could explain why he has not yet been officially invited to speak by the Congress leadership.
Similarly, Manish Tewari, another prominent Congress MP known for his foreign policy acumen, is also expected to stay silent in today’s session, further fuelling concerns about internal differences over the party’s position on the military operation.
Congress debate time
The Congress party has been allocated approximately two hours and thirty minutes in the Lok Sabha debate. Gaurav Gogoi is scheduled to open for the party, while Priyanka Gandhi is expected to be the second speaker followed by Supriya Sule. The exclusion of both Tharoor and Tewari, despite their foreign policy credentials, has raised eyebrows.
Meanwhile, a total of 16 hours have been allocated for the Operation Sindoor debate in the Rajya Sabha, out of which Congress has been allotted an approximate time of two hours. Leader of Opposition in the House, Mallikarjun Kharge, will open the debate.
Government speakers
From the government’s side, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to open the debate at 12 noon. Other speakers representing the BJP include Jay Panda, Tejasvi Surya, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Nishikant Dubey, Anurag Thakur and Aparajita Sarangi. The discussion is expected to span three days, with 32 hours allotted in total.
Besides them, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will speak at the Parliament at 7.30 PM today. Home Minister Amit Shah will also address the Parliament on Operation Sindoor.
Interestingly, sources indicate that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla may still extend an invitation to Shashi Tharoor to speak during the debate.