The Opposition Congress boycotted the proceedings on the first day of the monsoon session of the Rajasthan Assembly on Thursday (August 20, 2026) in protest against the State Government’s recent decision to restrict the entry of outsiders in the government schools.

The Congress MLAs staged a dharna outside the Assembly and demanded the resignation of State Education Minister Madan Dilawar.

Inside the House, Speaker Vasudev Devnani expressed disappointment over the absence of Opposition members, while the ruling party’s Chief Whip and two Ministers said the Congress MLAs had remained absent to avoid participating in the full rendition of the national song Vande Mataram.

Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg said the Opposition should raise its concerns on the floor of the House rather than creating disturbances outside. Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham accused the Congress of pursuing “appeasement politics” by staying away from the singing of national song.

The Assembly proceedings were adjourned till Friday (August 21, 2026) after obituary references and legislative business, which comprised the introduction of the Rajasthan Tree (Protection) Bill, proposing special protection for 29 tree species including khejri, and a Bill for the establishment of a private university.

The Congress legislators, led by Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully, marched from the Government Seth Anandilal Podar School for the Deaf and Mute towards the Assembly after being denied entry into the school. When the police stopped Congress MLAs with barricades, there was a brief scuffle between the protesters and police personnel.

The Congress MLAs sat on dharna outside the Assembly and raised slogans, alleging that thousands of schools in the State had dilapidated buildings, shortages of teachers and lack of basic facilities. “About 85,000 school classrooms are in poor condition, 1.25 lakh teaching posts are vacant and nine lakh children have dropped out of schools in the last three years,” Mr. Jully said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party government has imposed a restriction on the outsiders entering the government schools and barred photography and videography without written approval of the heads of institutions, while citing the “safety and privacy” of students. The abrupt decision has triggered a political row in the State.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra and AICC general secretary Sachin Pilot were among those who joined the demonstration. Mr. Dotasra questioned the Assembly’s gate being locked and said it was done to prevent the Congress MLAs from raising the public issues.

The Congress leaders said they had been stopped from entering through a gate which they had traditionally used since the Assembly building was constructed and announced that the party would submit a privilege motion over the issue.

Published - August 21, 2026 05:30 am IST