Parliament Monsoon Session Day 2: Uproar, Adjournment Over Protests and NEET

The second day of India's Parliament Monsoon Session, held on July 21, 2026, was marked by immediate uproar and subsequent adjournment of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha until noon. The disruptions were primarily driven by the Opposition's strong condemnation of a police crackdown on a massive youth protest, organized by the 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP), and ongoing concerns regarding alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination and embezzlement of donations from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya. The 'Sansad Chalo' (March to Parliament) protest, spearheaded by the CJP, took place on July 20, 2026, coinciding with Day 1 of the Monsoon Session. Thousands of students and youth activists gathered in Delhi, attempting to march towards Parliament to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Their central grievances included widespread allegations of a paper leak in the NEET-UG 2026 examination and irregularities in the CBSE school examination process. Despite prohibitory orders and denial of permission, the protesters pressed ahead, leading to clashes with Delhi Police. Security forces resorted to lathi-charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd, resulting in several injuries and detentions. Roads leading to Parliament were barricaded, and multiple Delhi Metro stations were temporarily closed as precautionary measures. Inside Parliament, the fallout from the police action and the broader issues dominated proceedings. On Day 2, Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, prominently raised the issue of the CJP protest crackdown. He accused the government of suppressing the voice of the youth and called the lathi-charge on students an "attack on democracy." Kharge highlighted that despite 90 reported paper leaks and numerous student suicides related to the NEET issue, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remained in his position. Day 1 of the Monsoon Session, July 20, 2026, had already witnessed a stormy start with repeated disruptions in both Houses. Opposition members consistently demanded substantive discussions on the NEET paper leak controversy and the alleged financial irregularities concerning the Ram Mandir donations. The intense sloganeering and protests prevented any meaningful legislative business, forcing multiple adjournments throughout the day, with both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha eventually adjourning for the entire day. The government, on its part, had an extensive legislative agenda for the Monsoon Session, including the introduction of several key bills. Among these were the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, aimed at increasing the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges, and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposes to make any obstruction or insult to the national song 'Vande Mataram' a criminal offence. However, the Opposition's resolve to press for discussions on the pressing national issues, particularly those affecting students and allegations of corruption, largely overshadowed the government's legislative plans. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ahead of the session, had appealed for smooth and productive proceedings, emphasizing the need for strong arguments over disruptions. However, his appeal seemed to have little impact on the Opposition's determination to raise these critical concerns. Beyond Parliament, the CJP protests continued, with activist Sonam Wangchuk maintaining his indefinite hunger strike. Union Minister J.P. Nadda reportedly met with CJP representatives to discuss their demands, including the release of Sonam Wangchuk, the resignation of Education Minister Pradhan, and compensation for NEET-UG 2026 aspirants who died by suicide. The clashes between protesters and police drew widespread criticism from various political figures, including Rahul Gandhi and Dimple Yadav, who also condemned the government's handling of the situation. The ongoing confrontation between the government and the Opposition over these contentious issues suggests a challenging and potentially unproductive Monsoon Session for legislative business, reflecting deep public discontent, especially among the youth.

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