Parliament – Opposition Protests Force Both Houses to Adjourn Amid Continued Deadlock
Parliament – Parliament witnessed another day of disruptions on Friday as sustained protests by Opposition parties over multiple issues prevented normal functioning in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, leading to adjournment of both Houses for the remainder of the day.
Opposition Raises Multiple Issues in Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha convened at 11 a.m., but proceedings were interrupted almost immediately after Opposition members began protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak, police action against students who attempted to march towards Parliament on July 20, and claims relating to the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Members from the Congress and other Opposition parties demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah be present in the House and issue a statement on the police action involving student demonstrators.
With slogan shouting continuing despite repeated requests from the Chair to maintain order, the House was first adjourned until noon.
Disruptions Continue After the House Reconvenes
When the Rajya Sabha resumed at noon, the protests continued without any sign of easing. Opposition MPs again raised concerns over the Ayodhya donation theft allegations while pressing for a response from the government on the student protest issue.
Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan repeatedly appealed to members to allow scheduled business to proceed. Although some official papers were tabled and a limited number of Zero Hour matters were taken up, the continuing disruptions prevented normal proceedings, resulting in the House being adjourned for the rest of the day.
Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge questioned why the Home Minister had not addressed the Upper House during the ongoing session. Responding on behalf of the government, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Amit Shah remained present within the Parliament complex throughout the day and that ministers attended House proceedings according to the business connected with their respective ministries.
Government Rejects Opposition’s Demand
Defending the government’s position, Kiren Rijiju stated that it was not for the Opposition to decide which minister should be present in the House or respond to a particular matter. He also accused Opposition members of disrupting proceedings by raising slogans before leaving the House instead of participating in discussions.
Despite the continued protests, the Chair completed essential procedural work before bringing the day’s sitting to an end.
Lok Sabha Also Faces Repeated Interruptions
Similar scenes unfolded in the Lok Sabha, where Opposition members continued raising slogans over the alleged police action against student protesters and the reported theft of donations linked to the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Their demand for a statement from the Home Minister remained unchanged throughout the day’s proceedings.
Even as protests continued, the House completed some legislative business. The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was passed without discussion. In addition, official documents scheduled for the day and reports prepared by several Parliamentary committees were formally presented before the House.
Appeals for Order Fail to Restore Normal Proceedings
Presiding officer Dilip Saikia repeatedly requested Opposition members to return to their seats and allow parliamentary business to continue. However, the persistent slogan shouting prevented meaningful discussion.
Zero Hour lasted only around 16 minutes before it had to be suspended due to the ongoing disruptions. With no improvement in the situation, the Lok Sabha was also adjourned for the remainder of the day.
Monsoon Session Continues Amid Political Standoff
The Monsoon Session, which began on July 20, has experienced repeated interruptions as disagreements between the government and the Opposition continue over the NEET paper leak, the alleged police action against student protesters, and other politically significant issues. The continuing impasse has affected the smooth functioning of Parliament on several occasions during the current session.