LS passes 2 Bills, including one to rename Kerala as Keralam amid Opposition protests
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed two more Bills without debate amid continued protests by Opposition members, who raised slogans and carried placards in the
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed two more Bills without debate amid continued protests by Opposition members, who raised slogans and carried placards in the Well of the House. The Bills included the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, which seeks to rename Kerala as Keralam, and the Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The developments came as the Monsoon Session remained paralysed over the Opposition's demand for Home Minister Amit Shah's presence in the House over student protests and police action, along with its demand for a discussion on the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. With the session due to end on Thursday, uncertainty also remains over pending legislation, including the women's reservation amendment bill and the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Amendment Bill.
Read Full Story When the House reassembled at 2 pm, the uproar continued, with Opposition members also raising slogans over the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Presiding officer Krishna Prasad Tenneti allowed papers to be laid on the table amid the din. The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 was then taken up for consideration and passage. The Bill was moved by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai and passed by voice vote without any debate amid sloganeering. While moving the legislation, Rai took a swipe at the Congress, saying, "It seems the Congress MPs are not in favour of the renaming." Soon after, Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol moved the Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which was also passed without debate as the ruckus continued.
So far, the Lok Sabha has cleared 11 Bills, but only two have been debated. The remaining legislation has been passed without discussion amid Opposition protests. Earlier in the day, when proceedings began at 11 am, Speaker Om Birla expressed anguish over the repeated disruptions before the House was adjourned within minutes. He appealed to the government and the opposition to find common ground so that the House could debate key Bills that bring "far-reaching changes in the country". The Opposition has been protesting for more than three weeks, demanding Shah's presence in the House over student protests and police action. The government's offer on Monday for a debate and Shah's reply did not break the deadlock, with the Congress insisting that the Home Minister's response should specifically address who ordered the firing of pellets against student protesters on July 20.
The BriefWire