Opposition Protests Disrupt Parliament on Opening Day of Monsoon Session

PTI, July 20, 2026, New Delhi :  A determined Opposition forced adjournment of both the Houses of Parliament for the day on the first day of the Monsoon Session over various issues, including the NEET paper leak and the Ram temple donation theft in Ayodhya.

Proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were disrupted right from the word go, forcing the Chair to call it a day after repeated adjournments.

When the Lok Sabha assembled for the day, tributes were paid to six former members who passed away recently. They are Nadendla Bhaskara Rao, Omwati Devi, Sudhangshu Seal, Major General Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri (Retd), K. P. Dhanapalan, and Pyare Lal Sankhwar.

The House also paid tributes to Father Amir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani played a significant role in fostering India-Qatar relations.

He said Father Amir of Qatar served as the Amir of Qatar for 18 years and laid the foundation of modern Qatar.

After the obituary reference, when the Speaker tried to take up the Question Hour, agitated Opposition members, including from the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, raised the issue of the paper leak of the NEET examination. 

The Speaker urged the Opposition to cooperate in the smooth functioning of the House and maintain decorum, but the Opposition members appeared 

adamant and continued with their protest, leading to adjournment of the House till 12 noon.

When the House reconvened after the first adjournment at 12 noon, the Opposition members continued with their protest, forcing the Chair to adjourn the House for half an hour till 12.30 pm.

When the Lower House again assembled after the second adjournment at 12.30 pm, the scene was no different.

The presiding officer, Dilip Saikia, tried to run the House, saying that there should be a healthy debate in the House.

He said people have sent their representatives to raise important issues in Parliament, but the Opposition members did not pay heed to the Chair's appeal, which led to adjournment of the House till 1.00 pm.

When the House again met at 1.00 pm, the Opposition members pressed their demands and raised slogans.

Saikia tried to take up the scheduled business, but the Opposition members created a ruckus in the House and continued with their protest.

Amid the uproar, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2.00 pm.

When the Lok Sabha met after the sixth adjournment at 3.00 pm, a similar situation prevailed, prompting the Chair to adjourn the House for the day.

The situation was no different in the Rajya Sabha, which too witnessed multiple adjournments before being finally adjourned for the day.

The Upper House saw five adjournments before Deputy Chairman Harivansh wrapped up the day's sitting at 2.30 pm.

He tried to take up the scheduled business, but the Opposition members raised slogans and continued with their protest.

Amid the ruckus, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till tomorrow.

Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha began with the oath of the newly elected members — Dr Mukeshbhai Rathwa, Mahesh Kewat, Dr Satish Poonia, Prakash Chik Baraik, Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray of the BJP, Pawan Khera of the Congress, James Sangma of the National People's Party, and K. Laltluangkima of the Zoram People's Movement.

Later, the House paid tributes to former members Balbir K. Punj, Swapan Sadhan Bose, Rangasayee Ramakrishna, and H. Hanumanthappa, who passed away recently.