Congress MLAs staged a sit-in outside the Rajasthan Assembly on Thursday, 20 August, the opening day of the Monsoon Session, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Madan Dilawar over the state of government schools and protesting restrictions placed by the Education Department on media coverage of those institutions.

The Protest and What Triggered It

Before marching to the Assembly, Congress legislators visited the Poddar School for the Deaf and Mute in Jaipur to highlight its condition. Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully, Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra, and senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot led the march on foot toward the Assembly complex.

As the group attempted to enter the premises, police halted them with barricades. A scuffle broke out, with several MLAs climbing onto the barricades during the confrontation — a sharp visual on the first day of the session.

Congress Allegations Against the BJP Government

The Opposition accused the Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of adopting what they called a 'dictatorial' approach toward both the media and the Opposition. Dotasra further alleged that RSS shakhas were being started inside government schools — a charge that the government did not immediately address on the floor of the House.

Congress leaders also accused the administration of failing to resolve systemic problems in the education sector, framing the media-entry restrictions as an attempt to suppress scrutiny of school conditions.

Assembly Proceedings: A 21-Minute Session

Despite the drama outside, the Assembly began its proceedings on schedule at 11 am. After tributes were paid to departed leaders, the House was adjourned at 11:22 am — just 21 minutes into the session — until Friday. Congress MLAs ended their sit-in following the adjournment.

The Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) also staged a separate protest outside the complex, demanding national monument status for Mangarh Dham.

Government's Counter and Bills Tabled

Government Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg criticised the Congress, saying the MLAs had stayed away from the House without valid reason and missed the singing of the full Vande Mataram. The government did not respond to the resignation demand on the record.

Two Bills were tabled during the brief session: the Geetanjali Global University Jaipur Bill and the Rajasthan Tree Protection Bill. Both are expected to be taken up for debate before passage in the coming days.

With the session barely off the ground and the Opposition already in confrontation mode, the Rajasthan Assembly's Monsoon Session is set for a turbulent few days ahead.