Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 PM as Opposition sloganeers over Jantar Mantar crackdown
Synopsis
For the second straight day, the Lok Sabha was paralysed — this time over the 20 July police crackdown at Jantar Mantar. The anti-paper leak Bill, introduced at the Opposition's own urging, sits untouched on the order paper while the very MPs who demanded it refuse to let the House debate it.
Key Takeaways
Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 PM on 28 July after Opposition sloganeering disrupted the Question Hour .
The protest centred on police action against demonstrators at Jantar Mantar on 20 July .
Speaker Om Birla opened the session by acknowledging India's medal winners at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow .
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced by MoS Jitendra Singh on 27 July but could not be debated for two consecutive days.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju appealed to Congress lawmakers to participate in debate, noting the Bill was brought in response to Opposition demands.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 PM on Tuesday, 28 July, after Opposition members disrupted proceedings with sustained sloganeering during the Question Hour, protesting police action against demonstrators at Jantar Mantar on 20 July. The disruption marks the second consecutive day of parliamentary paralysis, with the House unable to conduct substantive business.
How the Session Unfolded
Speaker Om Birla opened Tuesday's sitting by acknowledging India's medal winners at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. The goodwill was short-lived: Opposition MPs almost immediately raised placards and launched into sloganeering, demanding accountability for the police crackdown on protesters at Jantar Mantar.
Speaker Birla appealed to members to maintain decorum during Question Hour and announced that the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 — commonly referred to as the anti-paper leak Bill — would be taken up for discussion at 2 PM. When the din showed no sign of abating, he adjourned the House.
The Anti-Paper Leak Bill at the Centre of the Storm
The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday, 27 July by Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh. Even as the House reconvened at 5 PM on Monday, the uproar continued, with the presiding officer, Krishna Prasad Tenneti, urging members to engage on legislation he described as being of 'national importance' with a direct bearing on the nation's youth. The House was adjourned again without any debate.
Government Appeals Fall Flat
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju made repeated appeals to the Opposition, noting that the anti-paper leak law was itself a response to Opposition demands. 'It was their duty,' Rijiju said, to discuss and deliberate on the Bill. He also appealed specifically to Indian National Congress (INC) lawmakers to step back from the chaos and participate in a constructive debate for the benefit of students and young aspirants.
Tenneti echoed the sentiment, reminding members that the Bill had been awaited by the House for a long time and that students' futures were directly at stake. His appeals, however, did not restore order.
Background: The Jantar Mantar Protests
The Opposition's disruption is rooted in the 20 July police action at Jantar Mantar, where protesters — reportedly demonstrating against examination irregularities and paper leaks — were dispersed by law enforcement. Opposition parties have demanded a discussion and accountability in Parliament over the incident, a demand the government has not formally conceded on the floor of the House.
This is the second consecutive day the Lok Sabha has failed to conduct legislative business, with the Bill's passage now contingent on the restoration of order in the coming sessions.
Point of View
Appeal, adjourn — has become a ritual that costs legislative bandwidth without extracting any political cost from the disruptors.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Lok Sabha adjourned on 28 July 2026?
The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 PM on 28 July 2026 because Opposition members disrupted proceedings with sloganeering during the Question Hour, protesting police action against protesters at Jantar Mantar on 20 July. Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House after appeals for order went unheeded.
What is the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026?
It is an anti-paper leak Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha on 27 July 2026 by Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh. The legislation aims to curb malpractice in public examinations and was brought in response to demands from the Opposition itself.
What triggered the Opposition's protest in Parliament?
The Opposition is protesting police action against demonstrators at Jantar Mantar on 20 July 2026, who were reportedly demonstrating against examination irregularities and paper leaks. MPs raised placards and sloganeered, demanding parliamentary accountability for the crackdown.
Who appealed to the Opposition to restore order?
Both Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and presiding officer Krishna Prasad Tenneti made repeated appeals to Opposition members to drop placards and participate in debate on the anti-paper leak Bill. Rijiju specifically urged Congress lawmakers to engage constructively, noting the Bill was a response to their own demands.
What happens next with the anti-paper leak Bill?
The Bill's debate is scheduled to resume at 2 PM on 28 July, subject to the House maintaining order. It has now failed to be taken up for two consecutive days, and its passage depends on the Opposition allowing proceedings to continue.
