As the Monsoon Session of Parliament kicks off today, the Union Government has said it is open to discussing sensitive issues, including Operation Sindoor, a matter that has recently triggered sharp reactions from the Opposition. This assurance came during an all-party meeting held on the eve of the session, where the Centre also cautioned that any discussions must adhere strictly to Parliamentary rules and procedures.

The Opposition, however, is gearing up to demand an explanation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself on a host of contentious issues. These include the Pahalgam terror attack, the mystery and operation behind Operation Sindoor, former US President Donald Trump's claims of brokering peace between India and Pakistan, and the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.

This parliamentary session is expected to witness heated debates and significant political confrontation as both sides lock horns over critical matters with far-reaching national implications.

Centre signals openness but sets conditions

In a clear message during the pre-session all-party meeting, the Government stated its willingness to allow discussions on topics like Operation Sindoor, which Opposition leaders have linked with recent national security developments. However, the Centre laid emphasis on conducting the debate within the framework of rules set by the Rules Committee of Parliament, ensuring decorum and focus.

The phrase “we are open to all discussions” has become symbolic of the Government’s posture — one of readiness but with procedural constraints. Many see this as a calculated balancing act to maintain legislative order while facing public demand for accountability.

Opposition pushes for PM’s response

Opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, RJD, Left parties, and others, have prepared a joint strategy to corner the Government. Their primary demand: a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on three key issues — the Pahalgam terror attack, India’s military manoeuvre under Operation Sindoor, and Donald Trump’s repeated statements about his alleged role in India-Pakistan peace talks.

Adding fuel to the fire is the rising discontent over the Bihar SIR drive, with Congress leaders calling it a backdoor attempt to mimic NRC-type exercises under the garb of voter list revision.

Survey reveals Dalit voters in Bihar rank unemployment as top concern

A fresh survey released ahead of the Bihar Assembly Elections shows that unemployment is the biggest issue for the Scheduled Caste (SC) voters. Over 58 percent of Dalit voters believe joblessness is the most urgent problem in the state.

Notably, the report also highlighted that 27.4 percent of Dalit respondents expressed lack of trust in the Election Commission of India, casting a shadow over the fairness and transparency of upcoming electoral exercises in Bihar.

This data is likely to intensify the political narrative in Bihar and will provide fodder for Opposition attacks on the Centre and the State Government during the Parliament session.

Legal and national security updates round out the news day

While Parliament prepares for its intense deliberations, other significant stories are unfolding across the country.

In Mumbai, an advocate has filed a PIL in the Supreme Court seeking criminal prosecution against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray for making allegedly inflammatory remarks against Hindi-speaking citizens. The petitioner claims Thackeray’s rhetoric incites linguistic hatred and endangers public harmony.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Police announced the dismantling of a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module. The module is linked to recent grenade attacks on police stations in Patiala (Punjab) and Ajimgarh (Haryana). The arrests of three individuals and links to handlers based abroad have again highlighted cross-border terror threats.

Chanda Kochhar case: Tribunal upholds ED’s action

In another major update, the Appellate Tribunal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act has upheld the Enforcement Directorate’s attachment of properties belonging to former ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar and others.

The tribunal found a prima facie case of financial irregularities involving Videocon loan disbursal, which had triggered an investigation into quid pro quo arrangements during Kochhar’s tenure at the bank.

India’s UN voting pattern reflects shifting foreign policy

An analytical report has found that India’s abstentions at the United Nations have reached an all-time high, with the share of affirmative votes (yes votes) decreasing year after year.

According to former diplomats, this increase in abstentions allows India to position itself independently on polarised global issues. This is being interpreted as a pragmatic shift in Indian diplomacy — not choosing sides, but choosing strategic silence.

Other important national and international headlines

• Nepal PM K.P. Sharma Oli will visit India in mid-September, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties and explore cross-border connectivity projects.

• Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s coalition has lost its majority in the Upper House election. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and ally Komeito managed only 46 seats, falling short of the 50 required to continue governance smoothly.

• Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has urged all parties to maintain decorum and prioritise national interest in the upcoming sessions.

• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is planning a biometric Aadhaar update drive for children, to be rolled out through schools in the next two months. The aim is to keep children’s data updated for government welfare programmes.

• Nitish Kumar Reddy, key Indian cricketer, might miss the rest of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy due to a knee injury sustained during gym training.

• In Indonesia, a passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Sulawesi, killing at least five passengers. Rescue operations are ongoing, and over 280 passengers have been saved so far.

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