Parliament wrap: Judge impeachment letter, Centre on Air India crash, PM Modi's 'vijay utsav' speech & more

Speaker Om Birla urged members to maintain decorum and assured that discussions could follow Question Hour. However, the Lok Sabha was adjourned thrice

The Monsoon Session of Parliament began on a stormy note on July 21 (Monday), as Opposition parties demanded immediate discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack, ‘Operation Sindoor’, and the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists in Bihar. Repeated disruptions marked the first day, with Opposition MPs staging protests and sloganeering.

Speaker Om Birla urged members to maintain decorum and assured that discussions could follow Question Hour. However, the Lok Sabha was adjourned thrice. It was first adjourned till 12 pm amid sloganeering, then again till 2 pm and minutes after resuming till 4 pm as protests continued.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Opposition was not being allowed to speak, saying, “If the Defence Minister can speak, why not the LoP?” BJP’s Jagdambika Pal countered that the government was ready to answer all questions, but the disruption seemed “premeditated.”

In the Lok Sabha, BJP National Vice President and MP from Kendrapara Baijayant Panda presented the Select Committee Report on the Income-Tax Bill, 2025.

Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha functioned and passed the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025. Both Houses are set to reconvene on Tuesday.

Here are some highlights of Day 1 of the Monsoon Session 2025:

Impeachment letter against Justice Varma

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar told the Upper House that he had received a letter seeking the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma. The notice — submitted by 145 Lok Sabha MPs and 63 Rajya Sabha MPs — invokes Articles 124, 217, and 218 of the Constitution. The Secretary General has been directed to initiate appropriate steps.

Operations Sindoor may be taken up next week

A detailed discussion on Operation Sindoor is expected in the Lok Sabha next week, according to CNN-News18. The government is prepared to respond to every question related to the military operation, which was launched in response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack.

Civil aviation minister addressed Air India crash, black box probe

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu addressed questions on alleged absence of aviation experts in the Air India crash investigation. He clarified that subject experts are part of the investigation team and probe includes aviation engineers, pilots, and international observers, dismissing reports suggesting otherwise baseless.

Speaking on Air India crash preliminary report, he said all the answers will be given once the final report is placed and that the investigation is being conducted in accordance with international protocols.

He also said that for the first time, India is independently analysing the aircraft's black box, marking a shift as previously a black box would be sent abroad to be examined.

The minister that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) follows a thorough, rule-based process and is completely unbiased.

Bills of Lading Bill Passed

The Bills of Lading Bill, 2025 was passed by the Rajya Sabha. It repeals the Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856 and modernizes the 169-year-old shipping law adding key reforms to make the Indian shipping sector globally competitive. With this, The Bills of Lading Bill, 2024, will be renamed to the Bills of Lading Act, 2025.

PM Modi addressed media ahead of session

Ahead of the Monsoon Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the media and lauded Operation Sindoor for neutralising terrorist hideouts within 22 minutes. He called the session a “celebration of national pride,” citing the hoisting of the Indian tricolour on the International Space Station. He also praised an all-party delegation for exposing Pakistan’s role in terrorism and noted that Naxal influence is rapidly declining in the country.