Parliament paralysed second day: NEET leak, student protests stall Monsoon Session

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Parliament paralysed second day: NEET leak, student protests stall Monsoon Session

Synopsis

For the second straight day of the Monsoon Session, Parliament ground to a halt — not over one flashpoint but three: the NEET paper leak, police action on protesting students, and alleged misuse of Ram Temple donations. With the INDIA bloc coordinating strategy at the highest level and Rahul Gandhi directly confronting the Speaker, the Opposition is signalling this is a sustained campaign, not a one-day walkout.

Key Takeaways

Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned multiple times on 21 July — the second consecutive disrupted day of the Monsoon Session .
Opposition protests centred on the alleged NEET paper leak , police action against students in New Delhi , and alleged misappropriation of Ram Temple donations.
Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day at 2 pm ; Rajya Sabha was adjourned by Deputy Chairman Harivansh after repeated failed sittings.
Rahul Gandhi led an Opposition delegation to Speaker Om Birla , demanding a structured debate on police action against students.
Senior INDIA bloc leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge , met before proceedings to coordinate the day's strategy.
Analysts say the twin-day washout reflects a deep political standoff that is unlikely to ease without government concessions on a floor discussion.

Both Houses of Parliament were disrupted for the second consecutive day of the Monsoon Session on 21 July as Opposition members mounted sustained protests over the alleged NEET paper leak, police action against students in New Delhi, and the alleged misappropriation of donations meant for the Ram Temple. Multiple adjournments in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha left legislative business completely stalled.

Lok Sabha: Disruptions from the Opening Bell

Opposition members broke into slogans the moment the Lok Sabha assembled for Question Hour, demanding an immediate debate on alleged examination irregularities and the police crackdown on students. Speaker Om Birla assured members they would be given time to raise concerns within parliamentary rules, but protests persisted. The Speaker was forced to adjourn the House twice before finally calling it off for the day at 2 pm. Despite the turmoil, ministers managed to table official parliamentary documents during brief windows.

Rajya Sabha: Adjourned Within Minutes

The Rajya Sabha witnessed near-identical scenes. Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge attempted to raise the issue of police action against protesting students within minutes of the House convening, triggering counter-slogans from the treasury benches. Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan adjourned the House shortly after. Subsequent sittings at noon and post-lunch also collapsed under persistent protests, prompting Deputy Chairman Harivansh to adjourn the House for the rest of the day.

Rahul Gandhi Leads Opposition Delegation to Speaker

Before proceedings began, a cross-House delegation of Opposition MPs — led by Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi — met Speaker Om Birla to press for a structured discussion on alleged police brutality against students. After the meeting, Gandhi stated that Parliament must address issues affecting the country's youth and accused the government of failing to ensure accountability over the examination crisis. He also claimed the Speaker had indicated that government permission was required before any such discussion could be scheduled.

INDIA Bloc Huddle Sets the Day's Strategy

Before the day's proceedings, senior leaders of the INDIA bloc convened in the chamber of Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to align on strategy. The meeting was attended by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh, K. C. Venugopal, Supriya Sule, Sanjay Raut, Dharmendra Yadav, Mahua Maji, John Brittas, and P. Santhosh Kumar.

What Analysts Say

According to analysts, the back-to-back washouts on Monday and Tuesday underscore the depth of the political confrontation between the Opposition and the government during this session. With three core grievances — the NEET controversy, student protests, and the Ram Temple donations issue — driving the disruption, a near-term resolution appears unlikely unless the government agrees to a floor discussion on at least one of the Opposition's demands.

Point of View

The Monsoon Session risks becoming one of the least productive on record, with the cost falling squarely on pending legislation.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Parliament disrupted on 21 July 2024?
Parliament was disrupted for the second consecutive day of the Monsoon Session as Opposition members protested over the alleged NEET paper leak, police action against students in New Delhi, and alleged misappropriation of Ram Temple donations. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned multiple times, leaving all legislative business stalled.
What did Rahul Gandhi say after meeting Speaker Om Birla?
Rahul Gandhi, who led an Opposition delegation to Speaker Om Birla, said Parliament must address issues affecting the country's youth and accused the government of failing to ensure accountability over the examination crisis. He also claimed the Speaker indicated that government permission was required before a discussion on police action against students could be scheduled.
Who attended the INDIA bloc strategy meeting before the session?
Senior leaders of the INDIA bloc met in the chamber of Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge before proceedings. Attendees included Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh, K. C. Venugopal, Supriya Sule, Sanjay Raut, Dharmendra Yadav, Mahua Maji, John Brittas, and P. Santhosh Kumar.
What happened in the Rajya Sabha on 21 July?
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned within minutes of convening after Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge attempted to raise the issue of police action against protesting students. Counter-slogans from the ruling party side prompted Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan to adjourn the House; subsequent sittings also failed, and Deputy Chairman Harivansh adjourned the House for the rest of the day.
What is the NEET paper leak controversy?
The NEET paper leak refers to allegations that question papers for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test — India's medical college entrance examination — were leaked ahead of the exam, compromising its integrity. The controversy triggered widespread student protests and has become a major political flashpoint during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Nation Press
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