Rijiju slams Congress as Parliament passes two bills amid Opposition ruckus
Synopsis
Two bills cleared both Houses on 3 August even as Opposition MPs — led by Congress — walked out and disrupted proceedings. Rijiju's public rebuke, including a direct call-out of Mallikarjun Kharge, signals the ruling coalition's frustration with a session increasingly defined by noise over debate.
Key Takeaways
Kiren Rijiju criticised the Congress on 3 August for disrupting Parliament instead of participating in legislative debate.
Two bills were passed in both Houses; the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 cleared the Lok Sabha by voice vote.
Rijiju alleged he personally appealed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to rein in party MPs, to no avail.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal tabled the Supreme Court bill amid loud Opposition sloganeering demanding accountability over the Jantar Mantar police action.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day after disruptions showed no sign of easing.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday, 3 August sharply criticised the Opposition's conduct in Parliament, saying that while two significant bills were passed in both Houses, Opposition members — particularly from the Indian National Congress (Congress) — chose to disrupt proceedings rather than engage in debate. His remarks came shortly after the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 was passed in the Lok Sabha through a voice vote amid loud Opposition protests.
What Rijiju Said
Speaking outside Parliament, Rijiju said, 'Today, two bills were passed in Parliament. I am saddened that while members supporting the government spoke on these bills, the Opposition did not say anything and only created a ruckus.' He added that the government had repeatedly urged Opposition members to participate in discussions, but they declined.
'We repeatedly requested them to participate in the discussion, but they chose not to. The saddest part is that there is no one left in the Congress who can make its MPs understand the importance of participating in parliamentary proceedings,' he said.
Direct Appeal to Kharge Goes Unheeded
The Union Minister disclosed that he had personally appealed to senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, to encourage their MPs to take part in legislative debate. 'I urged everyone and also requested Mallikarjun Kharge to explain this to the Congress MPs, but there is no one in their party who can make them understand,' Rijiju said.
He went further, alleging that the Congress had also pressured members of other parties — including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) — not to speak. 'Members from the CPI(M) and other parties wanted to speak, but the Congress also pressured them, and they were not allowed to do so,' he claimed.
The Supreme Court Judges Bill Passed Amid Protests
Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal tabled the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 in the Lok Sabha amid persistent sloganeering from Opposition MPs, who were demanding answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over police action during the Jantar Mantar protests. Despite repeated appeals from the presiding officer, Krishna Prasad Tenneti, asking members to maintain order, the bill was passed by voice vote. The Lok Sabha was subsequently adjourned for the day when disruptions showed no sign of abating.
Congress in the Crosshairs
Rijiju reserved his sharpest criticism for the Congress, alleging the party was consumed by internal discord. 'No one can make Congress MPs understand anything. There is no leader left in the Congress who can show the party the right path. They are scattered,' he said. He also alleged the party was attempting to 'hijack the Cockroach Party issue' while engaged in internal infighting and competition for political space — a charge the Congress had not publicly responded to at the time of this report.
What Comes Next
Parliament's monsoon session continues to be marked by recurring disruptions, with the Opposition maintaining pressure over the Jantar Mantar police action issue. The passage of the two bills despite the walkout underscores the ruling coalition's numerical strength in both Houses, but the standoff signals that legislative business could remain contentious in the days ahead.
Point of View
A narrative the ruling coalition has used effectively in past sessions. The more substantive question is whether the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 warranted deeper parliamentary scrutiny that the disruptions foreclosed. Passing consequential judicial legislation through a voice vote amid Opposition protests sets a concerning precedent, regardless of which side bears responsibility for the chaos. The Congress's silence on the substance of the bills, while loudly demanding answers on Jantar Mantar, hands the government exactly the optics it wants heading into the next news cycle.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kiren Rijiju criticise the Opposition on 3 August?
Rijiju criticised the Opposition, particularly the Congress, for disrupting Parliament and refusing to participate in debates even as two important bills were passed. He said Opposition members 'created a ruckus' instead of engaging in legislative discussion.
Which bills were passed in Parliament on 3 August?
Two bills were passed in both Houses on 3 August, including the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, which was cleared in the Lok Sabha through a voice vote. The second bill was not individually named in available reports.
What was the Opposition protesting about?
Opposition MPs were demanding answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over police action during the Jantar Mantar protests. Their sloganeering disrupted proceedings even as Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal tabled the Supreme Court bill.
Did Rijiju speak directly to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge?
Yes, Rijiju said he personally appealed to Mallikarjun Kharge to encourage Congress MPs to participate in parliamentary debate, but claimed the appeal went unheeded. He alleged there was 'no one left in the Congress' capable of guiding the party's MPs.
What happened to the Lok Sabha session after the disruptions?
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day after repeated appeals by presiding officer Krishna Prasad Tenneti failed to restore order. The Supreme Court bill had already been passed by voice vote before the adjournment.
