Monsoon Session Day 2: Parliament Adjourned Till Noon Amid Opposition Uproar Over Protest Crackdown

Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned till noon shortly after commencing proceedings on the second day of the Monsoon Session on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. The disruptions followed intense opposition protests and sloganeering over a recent police crackdown on demonstrators in New Delhi.

In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the proceedings minutes after the session began, assuring members that they would have the opportunity to discuss the raised issues after the Question Hour. Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha descended into a din as Leader of the Opposition and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge raised concerns over the police action against a protest march on Monday, July 20, 2026.

Opposition Protests Over Student Crackdown and Paper Leaks

The uproar in the Rajya Sabha centered on a police crackdown during a march to Parliament led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The protest, which included demands for the resignation of the Education Minister, left several people injured.

Addressing the Upper House, Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the government's handling of the demonstration. "Our students, who are raising their voice on paper leaks and NEET examination, were attacked, with lathi charge and tear gas shelling. They are in hospitals. Their issues need to be heard," Kharge said before the House was adjourned.

Adding to the opposition's protest, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury moved an adjournment motion under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha. Chowdhury alleged that several gates of Parliament were sealed and internet services were suspended, preventing lawmakers from leaving the building to meet protesting citizens. She described the heavy deployment of armed personnel and barricades as an "unprecedented lockdown of Parliament."

NDA and INDI Alliance Hold Strategy Meetings

Prior to the start of the day's proceedings, both the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDI Alliance held separate strategy meetings.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the NDA Parliamentary Party's weekly meeting, known as "Mangal Milan," at the Parliament House. During the meeting, NDA alliance partners were expected to pass a congratulatory motion honoring Modi for becoming the longest-serving continuously elected Prime Minister of India.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that the Prime Minister addressed the issue of the NEET exam paper leaks. According to Rijiju, Modi told MPs that the government took immediate action following the leaks, prioritizing the future of students by conducting a swift re-examination and declaring results without delay. Rijiju added that the Prime Minister outlined stringent steps to prevent future leaks, emphasizing the need to punish the guilty and collaboratively establish a foolproof system.

On the opposition side, the INDI Alliance bloc met to coordinate their strategy. The meeting was attended by Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, and Mallikarjun Kharge.

Legislative Agenda and Proposed Bills

Despite the early disruptions, several key legislative items were scheduled for introduction and consideration in both Houses.

In the Rajya Sabha, the government is likely to table the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Expected to be introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Bill aims to grant statutory protection to the National Song, Vande Mataram. Under the proposed amendment, any act that obstructs the singing of the National Song or insults it in any form would become a punishable offense under law.

In the Lok Sabha, the government scheduled the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, for consideration and passing. This follows the first day of the Monsoon Session on Monday, which also saw repeated adjournments as opposition members demanded discussions on paper leaks and the CJP-led protests in the national capital.