Stormy End To Parliament Monsoon Session: Op Sindoor, Dhankhar's Exit, SIR Protests And More | Highlights

Last Updated:August 21, 2025, 23:35 IST

The opposition ended the monsoon session seeking a debate on "electoral fraud", prompting PM Narendra Modi to make scathing remarks about the "insecurity" of the Congress

Opposition members protest in the well of the Lok Sabha during the monsoon session of Parliament in New Delhi. (Image: Sansad TV/PTI)

From a riveting discussion on ‘Operation Sindoor’ to daily disruptions over the Bihar SIR and the dramatic exit of Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, the month-long monsoon session of Parliament came to a stormy end on Thursday.

The opposition once again ended the day with protests, seeking a debate on electoral fraud prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make scathing remarks about the “insecurity" of the Congress.

Amid all the noise, however, the government managed to introduce 14 Bills and secure passage of 12 key legislations, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s “tainted PMs-CMs" Bill that has also attracted opposition ire for being “draconian". There were, however, some moments of calm as well with a discussion on astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s return home after a historic trip to space.

The central government termed the session as “fruitful and successful" since all its planned legislative business were transacted before the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die. In his concluding remarks, Speaker Om Birla lamented the “unparliamentary behaviour" of the members, calling the “planned disruptions" unfortunate and against the dignity of the House.

Here are the highlights:

Operation Sindoor Debate

The only structured discussion in Parliament was about Operation Sindoor, which lasted 19 hours in the Lok Sabha and 16 hours in the Rajya Sabha. It, however, featured a high-voltage confrontation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.

Dhankhar’s Sudden Resignation

Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar left the ruling side silent and the opposition unusually sympathetic as he tendered his resignation citing health reasons.

The ‘Tainted PMs-CMs’ Bill

The Bill on the removal of ministers, including the PM and CMs, if detained for 30 consecutive days on serious criminal charges, triggered acrimonious scenes in both the Houses as tempers flared and copies of it were torn and flung. Members of the ruling and opposition alliances came face-to-face when Shah moved to introduce them

Shah’s Bills Referred to JPC

The three controversial Bills introduced by Shah were referred to a joint committee of Parliament. On Thursday, the Rajya Sabha adopted a motion to nominate 10 members to the committee of both Houses, which will scrutinise the three Bills. The Upper House adopted a motion to concur with the recommendation of the Lok Sabha in joining the 31-member committee. A total of 21 members will be from the Lok Sabha. The motion to send members to the committee was adopted with voice vote, amid stiff opposition and protests.

PM Modi’s Scathing Remarks on Congress

On the concluding day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed disappointment at the absence of normal proceedings and said bright and young MPs of the Congress do not get to take part in discussions due to the “insecurity" of its leadership. Sources said he made these remarks at the customary informal meeting of leaders from different parties in the Lok Sabha Speaker’s office after the House was adjourned. While he did not name Rahul Gandhi, his remarks were apparently aimed at the opposition leader at the centre of the ‘vote chori’ campaign.

Key Bills Moved and Passed

Despite repeated disruptions, adjournments and walkouts, 14 Bills were introduced and 12 key legislations were passed – Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025; Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025; and the Sports Governance Bill, 2025. The new Income Tax Bill was also cleared by the Lok Sabha and returned by the Rajya Sabha.

More Than 84 Hours Lost to Forced Adjournments

The Lok Sabha secretariat said the House lost more than 84 hours to forced adjournments, the highest in the 18th Lok Sabha formed in June last year after the general elections. The monsoon session began on July 21 and had 21 sittings with 37 hours and seven minutes of effective business, as per the Lok Sabha secretariat.

Birla said all parties had decided at the beginning of the session that discussions will be held for 120 hours in this session. “The Business Advisory Committee also agreed to this. But due to continuous deadlock and planned disruptions, we could barely work for 37 hours in this session," he underlined.

In the Rajya Sabha, deputy chairman Harivansh lamented that the entire session was marred by repeated disruptions and members could not get an opportunity to raise meaningful issues despite the best efforts of the chair. He said the House functioned for only 41 hours and 15 minutes. “This not only results in the loss of precious parliamentary time but deprives us of the opportunity to deliberate on several matters of public importance. The productivity of this session stood at a disappointing 38.88 per cent, something that calls for serious introspection," he said.

(With agency inputs)

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