NDA MPs march in Parliament with 'Rahul Gandhi bhago mat' placards over Home Minister debate
Synopsis
NDA MPs took their confrontation with the Opposition to Parliament's corridors on Tuesday, marching to Makar Dwar with placards accusing Rahul Gandhi of dodging Home Minister Amit Shah's scheduled statement on the student protest crackdown — a sharp escalation in the Monsoon Session's final week, with the NEET paper leak row and the Jharkhand lathi charge both fuelling the standoff.
Key Takeaways
NDA MPs marched toward Makar Dwar on 11 August carrying placards reading 'Rahul Gandhi bhago mat' .
Home Minister Amit Shah is ready to make a statement on police action against student protesters, according to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju .
BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused Rahul Gandhi of 'double standards' and alleged silence on a lathi charge on students in Jharkhand .
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut accused the Opposition of 'stalling' Parliament and 'betraying' the country.
The dispute traces back to the 20 July police action at Jantar Mantar during the 'Sansad Chalo' march over the NEET paper leak .
The Monsoon Session entered its final week on 11 August amid continued disruptions.
New Delhi, 11 August — National Democratic Alliance (NDA) lawmakers staged a protest march inside Parliament premises on Tuesday, advancing toward the Makar Dwar with placards demanding that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi not avoid the scheduled statement by Home Minister Amit Shah on police action against student protesters. The demonstration marked a sharp escalation in the standoff between the treasury benches and the INDIA bloc during the final week of the Monsoon Session.
What the Protest Was About
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA MPs carried banners reading 'Grah Mantri ki Charcha se Rahul Gandhi bhago mat' — roughly translated as 'Rahul Gandhi, do not run away from the Home Minister's reply.' The march followed a Monday announcement by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju that Home Minister Amit Shah would make a formal statement in the Lok Sabha regarding the police action against students, and an appeal to the Opposition not to disrupt proceedings.
Key Accusations from NDA Lawmakers
BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused Gandhi of 'double standards', alleging that the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition demands answers from the Home Minister while simultaneously avoiding the House when those answers are offered. Thakur also alleged that Gandhi had remained 'silent' on a separate incident — a reported lathi charge on students in Jharkhand. Several NDA MPs held banners reading 'Jharkhand mei chatro pe lathi charge pe Rahul Gandhi jawab do' — calling on Gandhi to respond to the Jharkhand student crackdown.
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut accused the Opposition of 'stalling' Parliament even after the government agreed to hold a discussion on what she termed the 'Cockroach protest'. She further alleged the Opposition was 'betraying' the country by repeatedly disrupting parliamentary proceedings.
The Underlying Dispute
The confrontation stems from the police action on 20 July at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, during a 'Sansad Chalo' march organised by students protesting the NEET paper leak and related examination irregularities. The Opposition has been pressing for a statement from the Home Minister, alleging 'brutality' against the demonstrators. The NDA, in turn, argues the INDIA bloc is using the issue to disrupt Parliament rather than engage in substantive debate.
Session Context and What Comes Next
The Monsoon Session entered its final week on Monday, 11 August, with disruptions continuing on both sides. The Opposition maintained its protest over the NEET paper leak, while the government insisted it was ready for a structured discussion. Whether Shah's statement will be delivered without further disruption will likely determine whether the session concludes with any legislative business intact.
Point of View
The treasury benches are now framing Gandhi as the one avoiding accountability. The Jharkhand angle is particularly pointed: it forces the Congress to either defend a state government's police action or stay quiet, both of which carry political cost. What gets lost in this theatre is the original question — what actually happened at Jantar Mantar on 20 July — which neither side appears eager to resolve on the record before the session ends.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did NDA MPs stage a protest march in Parliament on 11 August?
NDA MPs marched toward Parliament's Makar Dwar on 11 August to demand that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi not avoid Home Minister Amit Shah's scheduled statement on police action against student protesters. The BJP accused the INDIA bloc of disrupting Parliament to evade the discussion.
What is the 'Rahul Gandhi bhago mat' slogan about?
The slogan — translating to 'Rahul Gandhi, do not run away from the Home Minister's reply' — was printed on placards carried by NDA MPs during their protest march. It accuses Gandhi of avoiding a parliamentary discussion even as the government says it is ready to engage.
What triggered the Opposition's original protest in Parliament?
The Opposition has been protesting over the NEET paper leak controversy and the police action on 20 July at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, during a 'Sansad Chalo' march by students. It has alleged 'brutality' against the demonstrators and demanded a Home Minister's statement.
What did BJP MP Anurag Thakur say about Rahul Gandhi?
Anurag Thakur accused Rahul Gandhi of 'double standards', alleging he demands answers from the Home Minister but avoids the House when those answers are offered, and has stayed silent on a reported lathi charge on students in Jharkhand.
What is the current status of the Monsoon Session?
The Monsoon Session entered its final week on 11 August, with disruptions continuing on both sides. The government says it is ready for a structured discussion; the Opposition has maintained its protest over the NEET paper leak and the 20 July student crackdown.
