Presiding officer Sandhya Ray conducts the proceedings of the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on July 21, 2026. Photo: Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab

Both Houses of Parliament remained paralysed on the second day of the Monsoon Session on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) as Opposition members protested over the alleged NEET paper leak, the police crackdown on students protesting in the national capital and the alleged Ram Temple donation theft.

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned twice at 11 a.m. and noon before the House was adjourned for the day at 2 p.m. Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha.

Opposition MPs meet Speaker

A delegation of Opposition MPs from both Houses, led by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, met Speaker Om Birla and demanded a discussion on alleged police brutality against students protesting the education system in the national capital on Monday (July 20, 2026).

“Met the Hon’ble Lok Sabha Speaker today along with MPs of the Opposition. Our demand is simple: Parliament must have a detailed discussion on the brutality unleashed on students yesterday and on the government’s complete lack of accountability for the examination crisis. Students were beaten for asking legitimate questions about their own future. If Parliament cannot discuss the future of India’s youth, what is it for? The Opposition will not let this be buried. We will ensure that the students’ voice is heard on the streets and in Parliament,” Mr. Gandhi posted on X.

Later, speaking to the media in the Parliament Complex, Mr. Gandhi said the Speaker had told the delegation that “he has to take permission from the government for a discussion”.

Earlier in the day, INDIA bloc floor leaders met in the chamber of the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge and discussed the Opposition’s strategy for the day.

The meeting was attended by Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Mr. Gandhi, Congress general secretaries Jairam Ramesh and K.C Venugopal, Samajwadi Party’s Dharmendra Yadav, NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut, JMM’s Mahua Maji, CPI(M)’s John Brittas and P. Santhosh Kumar, among others.

Repeated disruptions

As soon as the Lok Sabha assembled for the Question Hour in the morning, Opposition members started raising slogans over the alleged NEET paper leak and the police lathi-charge on protesting students.

Mr. Birla assured members that they would get an opportunity to raise their issues as per the rules. However, as the protests continued, the Speaker adjourned the House. Amid the din, Ministers laid parliamentary documents on the table.

In the Rajya Sabha too, the first adjournment came within seven minutes of the House convening for the day.

After official papers were laid, Mr. Kharge rose to speak on the police action against protesters. Treasury Bench members responded with slogans, and even before Mr. Kharge could finish his remarks, Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan adjourned the House till noon.

When the House met again at noon, Secretary-General P. C. Mody read out a message from the Lok Sabha amid continuing commotion. The House was adjourned almost immediately.

Similar scenes were witnessed during the post-lunch sitting. Opposition MPs started raising slogans as soon as proceedings started. Deputy Chairman Harivansh then adjourned the House for the day.

Published - July 21, 2026 08:01 pm IST