Parliament Monsoon Session: ‘No direction from the Chair’ for Amit Shah’s presence, says Rijiju as Opposition protests Home Minister’s absence
Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for about half an hour on Friday (August 7, 2026) morning as Opposition members continued to disrupt the House, demanding
Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for about half an hour on Friday (August 7, 2026) morning as Opposition members continued to disrupt the House, demanding the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah to respond on police action on students who protested against the alleged NEET paper leak. Opposition MPs led by the Congress raised slogans seeking the presence of the Home Minister in the House, which were countered by the Treasury benches. Amid the ruckus, Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan adjourned the proceedings till 12 p.m. Soon after the listed papers were laid on the table of the House, leader of the Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of the continued absence of the Home Minister from the House during the monsoon session, which started on July 20.
He said the government was not even respecting the Chairman's comments and insulting the House. On Thursday (August 6, 2026), Mr. Radhakrishnan told Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to "echo the sentiments of the Opposition" to Mr. Shah and "consider the request" for his presence in the House. Opposition parties have been demanding a statement in the House from Shah on the July 20 police action on protesters marching towards Parliament. Rijiju, however, said there was no direction from the Chair and that the Leader of the Opposition was misleading the House.
The Home Minister, he said, is present in the Parliament throughout the day. Ministers attend the Parliamentary proceedings according to the agenda of their Ministries, he said, adding the Opposition cannot decide which Minister will come to the House and when. "You had given an observation," Mr. Rijiju told the Chairman. "No direction was given by the Chair." He went on to state that the Congress and other Opposition parties raise slogans and then walk out of Parliament, and that he condemns this act. Amid slogan shouting, Mr. Radhakrishnan called for Zero Hour mentions.
A couple of MPs raised issues of public importance in the din. Half an hour into the proceedings, the Chairman adjourned the proceedings till 12 p.m. amid unabated slogan shouting.
The BriefWire