Process set in motion to remove Justice Varma
The Monsoon session of Parliament began on a stormy note on Monday as the opposition forced repeated adjournments in the Lok Sabha, demanding an immediate discussion on Operation Sindoor and other issues, while the Rajya Sabha set in motion the process for Justice Yashwant Varma’s removal over burnt wads of cash found at his residence here.
A notice on the judge’s removal with signatures of 63 opposition members was filed with the Rajya Sabha Chairman, and another was submitted to the Lok Sabha Speaker — a bipartisan effort with 152 members, including Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, supporting the move.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Health Minister J P Nadda told the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, respectively, that the government was ready for a debate on Operation Sindoor and there was no question of running away, after the opposition members protested against not listing the matter for discussion immediately.
In the Lok Sabha, several opposition leaders, including Congress Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi, had submitted notices to move adjournment motion to seek a discussion on Operation Sindoor, which was turned down by Speaker Om Birla.
The Lok Sabha witnessed noisy scenes soon after the Speaker read out the obituary references as opposition members trooped to the Well of the House seeking to raise the issue of Operation Sindoor and demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi reply in the House.
The Speaker called for the Question Hour, but had to adjourn the proceedings till 12 noon as the protests continued. Similar scenes were witnessed at noon, when the House re-assembled. BJP member Jagdambika Pal, who was in the chair, adjourned the proceedings till 2 PM after laying of parliamentary papers on the table of the House.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju appealed to the opposition members to allow the House to function.
Meanwhile, a BAC meeting of Lok Sabha, chaired by Speaker Om Birla, allocated 16 hours for a special discussion on Operation Sindoor, which is expected to be taken up next week, sources said.
Rajya Sabha passed The Bills of Lading Bill, 2025 aimed to update and simplify the legal framework for shipping documents. The Lok Sabha had passed the bill in March.
In his remarks outside Parliament, Modi lauded a number of positive developments for the country.