Lok Sabha Adjourns Sine Die After Tumultuous Monsoon Session
Conclusion of the Monsoon Session
MPs stand at attention during the rendition of 'Vande Mataram' in Lok Sabha, on Thursday. (Photo:PTI)
New Delhi, Aug 13: The Lok Sabha concluded its Monsoon session on Thursday, adjourning sine die after a period filled with disruptions. The session was characterized by protests regarding alleged police brutality against student demonstrators and concerns over the management of donations for the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The adjournment occurred shortly after the session commenced, following the performance of all six stanzas of the national song, Vande Mataram.
Speaker Om Birla did not deliver his usual valedictory address, which typically summarizes the session's achievements and productivity.
As the House gathered for its final meeting, the Opposition continued to voice their discontent with slogans directed at the government.
This session was marked by frequent adjournments as Opposition members demanded a discussion regarding police actions against students and sought a response from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The political tensions escalated outside the House, where members from the ruling NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc confronted each other near Parliament’s Makar Dwar, necessitating a security cordon.
NDA members protested against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of evading a discussion on student protests, particularly regarding police actions against job seekers in Jharkhand.
In contrast, the Opposition called for accountability from Shah concerning alleged police misconduct during a student march on July 20, which protested the NEET paper leak and demanded reforms in the education system.
Opposition MPs carried placards and chanted slogans such as “Amit Shah maafi maango,” while also targeting the BJP over the Ram temple donation allegations.
They stood behind a prominent banner that read, “Chanda kisne loota hai?” raising accusations of misappropriation of donations.
Initially, the NDA and INDIA bloc members held separate protests before clashing at Makar Dwar.
Despite Shah's willingness to engage in a debate and address the Opposition's inquiries, the government and Opposition remained at an impasse regarding the student protests.
Shah had requested the Speaker to allocate time for a discussion, expressing his readiness to answer all questions from Opposition members.
Birla had repeatedly urged Opposition MPs to engage in discussions rather than disrupt the proceedings.
Nevertheless, protests persisted throughout the session, hindering discussions on various topics and leading to multiple adjournments.
During this session, the Lok Sabha passed 11 Bills, but only two were subjected to debate, while the others were approved amid protests without thorough discussion.
The two Bills that were debated included the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, where a broad consensus was reached between the government and the Opposition.
Most of the remaining Bills were swiftly passed by voice vote after the Opposition's proposed amendments were dismissed.
With inputs from agencies