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New Delhi: Just hours before the Lok Sabha was set to begin its debate on Operation Sindoor, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday turned to the Ramayana to describe India’s military action against Pakistan. “When Ravan crossed the Laxman Rekha, Lanka burned. When Pakistan crossed the red lines drawn by India, terrorist camps faced the fire!” Rijiju posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The BJP leader’s remarks came just about two hours before India’s military response to the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam was scheduled to be taken up for discussion in Parliament during the ongoing monsoon session. Rijiju also shared a one-minute video clip alongside his post. Sung by Kailash Kher, the song described the operation as an act of India’s “aan, baan, swabhimaan” (dignity, pride, self-respect). The clip begins with a line from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who dedicates Operation Sindoor “to every mother, sister and daughter of the country.”
Sixteen hours have been earmarked for the special debate in the Lok Sabha today. The Rajya Sabha is scheduled to hold a similar discussion on Tuesday, July 29. The Opposition had been demanding a debate on the operation and its diplomatic context since the strike took place in May.
While they have expressed “full support to the operation in national interest,” several leaders have raised questions about US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he secured the ceasefire and “stopped a potential nuclear war” by using trade pressure on both India and Pakistan. Indian officials have consistently maintained that India does not take decisions based on foreign pressure.
The agreement to hold the debate came after the monsoon session, which began on July 21, witnessed repeated disruptions led by the Congress and other opposition parties. Leaders from both the ruling NDA and the Opposition are expected to participate in the debate. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to open the discussion in the Lok Sabha.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Nishikant Dubey are also expected to speak, according to PTI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to intervene during the Lok Sabha debate and may also do so in the Rajya Sabha.
