Nation

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Union Home Minister Amit Shah stepped in to defend External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who was delivering a statement on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha on Monday, July 28, 2025. Jaishankar faced repeated interruptions from Opposition members while outlining India’s military and diplomatic response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Frustrated by the chaos, Shah rose twice to confront the disruption and sharply admonished the Opposition for placing greater faith in foreign narratives than in their own Cabinet minister’s testimony .

Amid the disorder, Shah challenged the Opposition directly with the question: “Will you not believe your own Foreign Minister?” He accused them of listening to statements from abroad—implicitly referencing U.S. President Trump—instead of Jaishankar’s official remarks made on record. Shah warned that their apparent mistrust in Indian leadership is precisely why they remain the Opposition and “will remain there for 20 years”.

Jaishankar, undeterred, continued to stress India’s policy of zero tolerance for terrorism, detailing robust diplomatic actions: suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down the Attari Integrated Check Post, cancellation of SARC visa exemptions for Pakistani nationals, declaring Pakistani defence and air advisors persona non grata, and reducing Pakistani High Commission staff . He reaffirmed that global powers—including China, Iran, and Russia—condemned the April 22 Pahalgam attack via Quad, BRICS, and United Nations resolutions, signaling widespread international endorsement of India’s stance 

Both Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refuted claims that Operation Sindoor was halted under any external pressure. They clarified that a ceasefire offer originated from Pakistan and was accepted by India only after the operation’s strategic objectives were achieved. Singh insisted the operation achieved its goals while neutralising terror infrastructure, and dismissed speculative criticism about operational setbacks .

The Lok Sabha witnessed intense procedural tensions before the debate began. The session on Operation Sindoor was delayed and adjourned multiple times because of protests by Opposition members over the Bihar electoral roll revision (SIR). This stalling forced proceedings to start only after 2 pm, significantly compressing planned business in the lower House.

During the session, Opposition MPs raised concerns about delays in launching the response to the terror attack. Samajwadi Party MP Ramashankar Rajbhar questioned why it took 17 days to initiate an operation that the public demanded within days. Shiv Sena MP Arvind G Sawant criticised the lack of security at the Pahalgam site on the day of the attack, urging accountability and investigation .

Meanwhile, the government maintained that parliamentary norms must be upheld. Shah appealed to Speaker Om Birla to curb disruptions and preserve decorum, pointing out that if Opposition members could not show respect for a sworn-in Cabinet minister speaking on national security, governance would become unmanageable .

The ruling BJP alliance plans extensive participation from senior ministers—including Defence, Home, and External Affairs—as well as a concluding address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, likely scheduled for later in the evening. The session overall has become a high-stakes showcase of political theatre, with both sides staking reputational ground on India’s security posture and diplomatic resolve .

The key moment arose when Amit Shah firmly backed Jaishankar, condemning Opposition interruptions and accusing them of prioritising foreign voices over national leaders. The clash highlighted larger disputes over trust in government, parliamentary conduct, and India’s global standing amidst Operation Sindoor’s unfolding trajectory.