The Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon on Friday, 31 July after Opposition members stormed the Well of the House, waving placards and demanding accountability over alleged police excesses during the pan-India students' agitation — including the reported use of an AK-47 during anti-NEET leak protests in Bihar. The disruption unfolded on the last working day of the second week of the Monsoon Session, cutting short the Question Hour before it could begin in earnest.

Opposition Demands and the Trigger

As the House convened, Opposition members raised the issue of alleged police high-handedness during the nationwide student demonstrations against the NEET paper leak. Central to their protest was the reported deployment of an AK-47 assault rifle during the crackdown in Bihar — an allegation that has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups and Opposition parties alike. Lawmakers from the Opposition benches refused to return to their seats despite repeated appeals, persisting with sloganeering and poster displays.

What Speaker Om Birla Said

Speaker Om Birla made multiple appeals to the protesting lawmakers to allow the House to function, particularly emphasising the importance of the Question Hour. 'I have repeated earlier also that carrying placards and banners inside the House is a violation of conventions and traditions of the House,' he said. He also cautioned members against 'deliberate obstruction and disruption', noting that even Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi was listed among those scheduled to participate in the Question Hour.

In a separate warning, Birla flagged complaints received in writing from several members about lawmakers dressing in an unconventional manner — inside and outside the House — stating that such conduct was in violation of Parliamentary protocols. 'Many members have complained in writing that certain people are trying to lower the dignity and sanctity of the House by dressing unconventionally,' he said.

Adjournment and Pattern of Disruptions

Despite Birla's repeated persuasion, the Opposition benches remained unrelenting, and the House was adjourned till noon. This is consistent with a broader pattern during the current Monsoon Session, where proceedings have been repeatedly disrupted over the NEET controversy — a crisis that has dominated parliamentary discourse since the session began. The Question Hour, considered one of the most critical mechanisms for public accountability in Parliament, was effectively lost for the day.

Vande Mataram Bill Passed the Previous Day

The disruption came a day after the Lok Sabha cleared The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 on Thursday, 30 July. The legislation makes any insult to the national song Vande Mataram a punishable offence, effectively granting it legal parity with the national anthem Jana Gana Mana. The passage of the bill had itself been contentious, though it did not trigger the same level of floor disruption as the NEET issue.

With the Monsoon Session entering its third week, the Opposition shows no sign of backing down on the NEET protests issue, raising questions about how much legislative business the House will be able to transact before the session concludes.