Opposition- Presses Demand for Amit Shah Statement as Rajya Sabha Faces Disruptions
Opposition- Opposition parties renewed their demand on Friday for Union Home Minister Amit Shah to make a statement in the Rajya Sabha regarding the police action taken against protesters on July 20. Continuous protests and slogan-shouting by opposition members disrupted proceedings in the Upper House, leading to its adjournment until 12 noon. The issue remained at the center of a heated exchange between the government and the opposition.
Dispute Over Chair’s Alleged Direction
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, claimed that the Chair had earlier asked the Home Minister to address the House on the matter. Referring to the proceedings, Kharge said that the Chair’s direction had not been respected, arguing that the government’s response reflected disregard for the authority of the House.
According to Kharge, the absence of a statement from the Home Minister despite the opposition’s repeated demand amounted to ignoring the concerns raised by elected representatives. He maintained that the House deserved a direct explanation from the minister responsible for internal security matters.
Government Rejects Opposition’s Claim
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju strongly rejected Kharge’s assertion, stating that no such direction had been issued by the Chair. He accused the opposition of presenting an inaccurate version of events and said the record of the House did not support the claim.
Rijiju further argued that it is the government’s responsibility to determine which minister responds to discussions in Parliament based on the subject under consideration. He emphasized that the opposition cannot dictate the attendance or participation of individual ministers during parliamentary proceedings.
The minister also defended Amit Shah’s presence in Parliament, saying the Home Minister remains in the Parliament complex throughout the working day whenever the House is in session. Rijiju alleged that opposition members often leave the House before discussions conclude and later accuse the government of avoiding debate.
Protest Continues Inside and Outside Parliament
The disagreement inside the Rajya Sabha followed demonstrations by opposition Members of Parliament in the Parliament House complex earlier in the day. The protesting MPs raised two major issues before the government: allegations concerning the reported theft of donations linked to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and their continued demand for a statement from Amit Shah over the alleged police action against student protesters.
Despite rainy weather, opposition leaders gathered near Makar Dwar carrying umbrellas and placards while raising slogans directed at the Central government. Their demonstration highlighted their insistence that the Home Minister personally respond to the concerns raised by opposition parties.
Friday’s Parliamentary Schedule
Friday’s parliamentary agenda is traditionally reserved for private members’ legislative business in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. However, the planned legislative work was overshadowed by the political confrontation between the treasury benches and opposition parties over the demand for the Home Minister’s statement.
With both sides maintaining their positions, the issue continued to dominate discussions during the day’s proceedings. While the opposition insisted that Amit Shah should directly address the House, the government maintained that there had been no directive requiring his appearance and that ministerial responses are determined according to parliamentary procedure.
The developments reflect the continuing standoff between the government and opposition over accountability in Parliament, with procedural disagreements once again affecting the smooth conduct of business in the Upper House.