Monsoon Session Day 2: Parliament Adjourned as Opposition Protests Intensify

Parliament Grinds to a Halt on Second Day

The Monsoon Session of Parliament lost its second consecutive day on Tuesday as both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned following relentless protests by Opposition members. The flashpoint was the police lathi charge on student protesters in Delhi, which has sparked widespread condemnation.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was among the most vocal critics, accusing the government of heavy-handedness. “They are beating students,” he said in the Rajya Sabha, demanding an immediate apology and a discussion on the incident.

NEET Row Adds to the Chaos

The ongoing controversy surrounding the NEET examination remained a major sticking point. Opposition parties insisted on a detailed debate on alleged irregularities in the medical entrance test, but the government’s response did little to mollify them.

Speaker after speaker from the Congress, Trinamool Congress, and other parties argued that the session was being wasted. The uproar forced the presiding officers to repeatedly adjourn the Houses, with the Rajya Sabha being adjourned for the day within minutes of reassembling.

Opposition Unity and Faultlines

While the Opposition appeared united in its demand for a discussion on the police action and NEET, internal differences were visible in the Lok Sabha. The Trinamool Congress, in particular, displayed its own splits, with some members aligning with the government on certain procedural matters.

This led to moments of confusion, with the Indian Express noting that the “faultlines” within the Opposition were “on full display.” The ruling party benches used these divisions to argue that the protests were politically motivated rather than principled.

What Happens Next

The government has indicated a willingness to discuss the NEET issue but insists that the session cannot be held hostage to disruptions. The Opposition has vowed to continue its protests unless their demands for a formal debate and a statement on the lathi charge are met.

With the session scheduled to run for several more weeks, the coming days will test whether the ruling coalition can steer the agenda back to legislative business or whether the monsoon session will be remembered for its stormy start.