Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Parliament that Pakistan's military pleaded, “Bas karo, bahut maara hai,” after India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack. "They admitted they could no longer bear the assault," PM said, adding that the 22-minute operation achieved 100% of its objectives. Modi declared, “No nuclear blackmail will work,” and said India will retaliate to terror attacks on its terms. He accused Pakistan of siding with terrorists and slammed Congress for not supporting the military. "Had Pakistan used its brain, it wouldn’t have stood with terrorists," he added, defending the forces’ free hand. (PC: India Today)

Priyanka Gandhi slammed Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament after he claimed Sonia Gandhi cried for terrorists killed in the 2008 Batla House encounter. “Meri maa ke aansu tab gire jab unke pati ko aatankvadiyo ne shaheed kiya,” she said, referring to the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. She accused the government of failing to prevent the Pahalgam terror attack and questioned why no security was present in a busy tourist spot. “There was no first aid, no protection. People went there trusting the government,” she added, demanding answers from the Centre on the security lapse. (PC: NDTV)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, speaking in Lok Sabha, criticised the Centre over Operation Sindoor. “You went into Pakistan and told our pilots not to attack their air defence,” he said. Gandhi claimed the operation was stopped in just 22 minutes to protect PM Modi’s image. He added, “The opposition stood like a rock with the government, despite insults.” Gandhi also dared the Prime Minister, saying, “Say Donald Trump is a liar,” referring to Trump’s ceasefire claims. He accused the government of informing Pakistan mid-operation. Other leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi and Kharge, questioned the handling of the Pahalgam attack and demanded accountability. (PC: Hindustan Times)

External affairs minister S. Jaishankar told the Lok Sabha that there was “no call” between PM Modi and then-US President Donald Trump between April 22 and June 17, rejecting Trump’s claim that a trade offer helped bring about a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Jaishankar insisted there was “no linkage” between trade and Operation Sindoor, which India launched on May 7 after the Pahalgam terror attack. Defence minister Rajnath Singh also said Operation Sindoor was paused after achieving objectives and not due to any external pressure. India said the ceasefire was initiated through direct DGMO-level talks requested by Pakistan. (PC: HT)

Home Minister Amit Shah strongly criticised the Opposition in Parliament for interrupting External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Jaishankar was speaking about Donald Trump’s claims of mediating during Operation Sindoor. He clarified there was “no call between PM Modi and Trump” from April 22 to June 17. As the Opposition protested, Shah said, “They don’t trust our Foreign Minister, but they believe another country. That’s why they’re sitting there, and will stay there for 20 more years.” Shah also warned of more disruptions if the behaviour continued. Jaishankar added that India responded to Pakistan’s threats and only accepted ceasefire talks via military channels. (PC: India Today)

During a special debate in Parliament on Operation Sindoor, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi interrupted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's speech, questioning the government's decision to halt India's military response after the Pahalgam attack. As Singh described Pakistan's plea to stop hostilities after IAF strikes on May 10, Rahul stood up and asked, “Toh aapne roki kyun (why did you stop)?” Singh responded that the decision was strategic and had been addressed earlier. Congress MPs later demanded clarity on why the ceasefire was accepted if Pakistan had conceded defeat, citing alleged U.S. pressure. Singh reiterated India aimed only to target terror hubs. 

Following Shubman Gill’s masterclass in Manchester, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar stated that while India missed the presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, they didn’t miss their contributions. Gill’s 722-run tally in the series just 16 short of Joe Root’s record has kept India competitive despite the retirement of Kohli, Rohit, and R Ashwin. Manjrekar noted Rohit averaged just 10 in his last two series, and Kohli 30 over five years. England’s Jonathan Trott admitted his team couldn’t have coped similarly. With one Test left at The Oval, Gill stands poised to become India’s highest scorer in a single England tour. (PC: India Today & Mint)

The Lok Sabha will hold a 16-hour debate today on Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to initiate the discussion, with key speeches from Amit Shah, S. Jaishankar, and BJP MPs. The Opposition will be represented by Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Supriya Sule, Abhishek Banerjee, and others. The Rajya Sabha will debate the issue tomorrow. The Opposition is likely to raise questions about Donald Trump's claim of mediating an India-Pakistan ceasefire. Prime Minister Modi's possible participation is unconfirmed. Opposition INDIA bloc leaders met at 10 am to finalise strategy. (PC: HT)

In response to rising complaints of harassment and detentions of Bengali migrant workers in other states, the West Bengal Police launched a WhatsApp helpline (9147727666) to provide assistance. Families can report issues with name and address details, enabling authorities to coordinate with local officials across states like Maharashtra and Haryana. However, the move sparked political friction. The BJP launched a rival helpline, alleging the state initiative was biased and politically motivated. The issue has become a flashpoint between Trinamool Congress and BJP, highlighting the deepening politicization of migrant welfare efforts.

At the Congress’s Bhagidari Byay Sammelan in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “all show, no substance,” saying, “Dum nahin hai.” He blamed the media for inflating Modi’s image and criticised the BJP government for sidelining SC, ST, OBC, and minority communities in bureaucracy and academia. Admitting regret, Gandhi said he failed to protect OBCs since 2004 but vowed to rectify this with a caste census. He also highlighted that reserved seats in central universities remain vacant. BJP’s Amit Malviya responded, calling Gandhi’s remarks hypocritical and accused him of divisive politics based on caste identity. (PC: India Today)