Parliament monsoon session: Send leaders empowered to take decisions for all-party meetings, says Lok Sabha Speaker

Pic/PTI

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday urged leaders of political parties to send representatives who are empowered to take decisions to meetings for finalising the agenda for Parliament, reported news agency PTI.

Birla's remarks came as the opposition members sought an assurance from the government on discussion on the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar after the conclusion of the debate on Operation Sindoor.

The opposition members were in the Well of the House, raising slogans and seeking an assurance before the Lok Sabha took up the discussion on Operation Sindoor.

Birla said that at the all-party meeting chaired by him last week, all leaders sought a discussion on Operation Sindoor, which was agreed to, and 16 hours were allocated for the same, reported PTI.

"There is something called commitment. Leaders of all parties had sought a discussion on Operation Sindoor and now you are in the Well of the House raising other issues," he said, addressing opposition members, reported PTI.

"You can't demand a discussion on any issue from the Well of the House. The House runs as per rules of procedure," Birla said, reported PTI.

The Speaker told SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who was on his feet demanding a discussion on SIR, to send a representative who is empowered to take decisions to the all-party meeting.

"If you are not empowered and if someone else has to take decisions, then such persons should not come to the all-party meetings," Birla said, reported PTI.

The Lok Sabha was to take up a special discussion on "India's strong, successful and decisive" Operation Sindoor in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam at 12 noon.

However, when the House convened for the discussion, the opposition parties sought an assurance on the debate on SIR exercise in Bihar.

The first week of disruption in Parliament's Monsoon session is set to give way to a fiery debate on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor from Monday afternoon as the ruling alliance and the Opposition prepare to lock horns over the two issues steeped in national security and foreign policy imperatives.

The BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance and opposition parties are expected to field their top guns during the discussion in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Opposition parties have framed their public criticism of the government around alleged intelligence lapses behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians killed, and US President Donald Trump's claims of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly attacked the government's foreign policy, claiming that India did not receive international support on Operation Sindoor and has cited Trump's frequent mediation claims to target the ruling alliance. The government has rejected Trump's claims.

(With inputs from PTI)