The Congress party has launched a sharp attack on the central government for announcing the Monsoon session of Parliament 47 days in advance — a move they allege is a tactical diversion to avoid holding a special session to address the Pahalgam terror attack and other urgent national security issues. On June 4, 2025, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju declared that the Monsoon session will run from July 21 to August 12, as recommended by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. While date announcements are typically made only days prior to the session, the unusually early notice has drawn criticism from the Opposition, particularly the Indian National Congress and members of the INDIA bloc.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, in a pointed post on social media platform X, remarked that never before have parliamentary dates been announced so prematurely. He argued that this sudden move was a deliberate attempt to dodge growing calls for a special session to debate critical national concerns. These include the Pahalgam massacre, the lack of justice for the victims, the political fallout of Operation Sindoor, controversial comments by the Chief of Defence Staff during a Singapore visit, increasing India-Pakistan-China entanglements, and former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recurring claims about mediation in Kashmir. Ramesh asserted that the government was trying to sidestep accountability by postponing confrontation on these sensitive matters.
Despite the government’s move, the Congress has vowed that these issues will still take center stage during the Monsoon session. Jairam Ramesh warned that the Prime Minister may have “run away” from a special session, but he will be forced to face the nation and respond to hard questions in Parliament six weeks from now. Meanwhile, Rijiju confirmed that Rajnath Singh’s session recommendation has been sent to the President for formal approval, even as criticism mounts over the timing and motive behind the early announcement.
