New Delhi, July 22: India’s Parliament was adjourned for the day on Monday as opposition parties staged protests in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, demanding urgent discussions on the recent Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, and remarks made by U.S. President Donald Trump about mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned four times before concluding at 4 p.m., while the Rajya Sabha also saw disruptions but managed to pass the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025, before being adjourned until 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Lawmakers from the opposition benches raised slogans and pressed for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in Parliament to respond to concerns over national security and foreign policy.
Union Ministers J.P. Nadda in the Rajya Sabha and Kiren Rijiju in the Lok Sabha said the government was open to discussions on the issues raised, but emphasized that debates must proceed according to established rules.
During the Rajya Sabha session, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu responded to questions about the recent Air India AI171 crash in Ahmedabad. He said a final report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) was awaited and urged members to refrain from speculation.
In a significant development, Rajya Sabha Chair and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar informed the House that a motion to initiate the removal of Justice Yashwant Verma of the Rajasthan High Court at Allahabad had been received. The motion, submitted under constitutional provisions, was signed by more than 50 Rajya Sabha members and 152 members of the Lok Sabha. The move follows a controversy linked to the discovery of cash.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha passed the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025. Union Ports and Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted progress under the Sagarmala programme and called for separate legislation to regulate electronic bills of lading. BJD MP Niranjan Bishi warned that certain provisions in the bill could enable fraudulent transactions.
Elsewhere, lawmakers raised concerns on a range of regional and national issues. BJP MP Brij Lal suggested promoting less water-intensive crops in Uttar Pradesh, while AAP MP Raghav Chadha called for the introduction of a legal right to annual health check-ups, citing low rates of cancer screening. BJP MP Dorjee Tshering Lepcha urged greater development support for the northeastern state of Sikkim, which is celebrating 50 years since its formation.
AIADMK MP M. Thambidurai alleged that Tamil Nadu had become a hub for drug trafficking, blaming the state’s ruling DMK government for inaction. Parliament proceedings are scheduled to resume on Tuesday.
