Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday (July 24, 2026) urged the Opposition to let a debate take place in the Lok Sabha over the NEET paper ‘leak’ issue, asserting that any excuse made by them would send a wrong signal to the country.
However, the Congress and other Opposition parties continued to insist on resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Union Minister Rijiju calls for a debate on the NEET paper leak issue, urging the Opposition not to block discussions.
Soon after the introductio of the Vande Mataram Bill, the House was adjourned for the day amid continued protests by the Opposition MPs. The Rajya Sabha will next meet on Monday (July 27, 2026), 11 a.m.
Minister of State of Home Affairs Nityanand Rai moves Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Rajya Sabha.
This legislation seeks to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. The existing law penalises acts of disrespect towards national symbols such as the National Flag, the Constitution, and the National Anthem with imprisonment of up to three years.
The proposed amendment seeks to extend similar protection to Vande Mataram. According to the Bill, any act causing obstruction in the singing of the National Song or insulting it in any form would become punishable under law.
CPI MP in Rajya Sabha Sandosh Kumar begins by stating that the Vande Mataram Bill is to distract from the ongoing students’ agitation.
To this, Chair asks him to speak on the matter alone without diverting.
“I love Vande Mataram but I oppose this bill because it wants to create division between Tagore and Bankim Chandra,” Mr. Kumar says.
Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas, leader of the CPI(M) group in the House has given notice under Rule 67 objecting to introduction of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
“They cannot manufacture patriotism and nationalism through a piece of legislation,” he said.
CPI(M) opposes the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, calling it unconstitutional and a breach of rights.
In Chair: Harivansh Singh
Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav says, “The government wants the students’ issue to be buried. If the government truly cares about the welfare of students, it should remove the NTA... Many complaints are coming in... Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should have resigned on his own... This is not just protests in Delhi. Demonstrations are happening in other cities as well. I believe the Education Minister should resign on moral grounds...”
Azad Samaj Party-Kanshiram President and MP Chandrashekhar Azad says, “If any incident occurs anywhere, responsibility is ensured... What happened to the protesters in Delhi is in front of everyone. Who are those children? They are our children, the children of this country, the future of this country. The way they are lathi-charged... What kind of behaviour is this? You are using pellet guns, tear gas, and high-ranking officers are slapping... I have great respect for the police. But some police officers behaved like this, beating children in private places, and the way a girl is in the hospital... Law and order should be equal for everyone here.”
“I want to tell this clearly, there are three demands of the students: The corrupt Education Minister has to go. Second, action on those who thrashed the students, and third, the Prime Minister should apologise to the students,” Rahul Gandhi stated the Opposition’s stance.
“We are not going to have any discussion before Dharmendra Pradhan is sacked,” he added, speaking to reporters.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that he wasn’t allowed to speak on the floor of the House even after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju took his name, urging Opposition MPs to allow proceedings to continue.
According to a normal protocol, if someone takes anyone’s name then there is a response from the that person but when I wanted to respond, I wasn’t allowed to speak,” he said.
Opposition MPs continue protesting inside Parliament premises, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
Even after repeated calls to maintain decorum of the House, Opposition MPs, including LoP Rahul Gandhi, continued to raise slogans calling for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
Amid the relentless protests, the House was adjourned for the day. The Lok Sabha will next convene on Monday (July 27, 2026) at 11 a.m.
Chair Jagdambika Pal reprimanded the Opposition MPs for not allowing proceedings to continue smoothly. He told them that the government has agreed to take up discussion on NEET, but it must be done after being listed in agenda of the House after permission from the Speaker and the Business Advisory Committee.
He said it is important to take up Rule 377 which permits MPs to raise matters of urgent public importance.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” Mr. Pal said, stating that the Lower House is scheduled to take up the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, for consideration and passing.
“Education Minister tender you resignation” - Opposition MPs relentlessly continued their sloganeering even as the Lok Sabha proceeded to lay papers on the table as per revised list of business.
Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, amid continued protests, directly addressed LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and urged the Opposition to allow for the House to function.
He said the government has agreed to take up a discussion on NEET paper ‘leak’, however the Opposition not letting it happen through repeated disruption.
Chair Jagdambika Pal reiterated the request to maintain decorum of the House and take up the discussion at an appropriate time without suspending business of the day.
Rajya Sabha Chair C.P. Radhakrishnan adjourned the House till 2 p.m. as Opposition MPs kept up with sloganeering, calling for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
In Chair: Jagdambika Pal
LoP in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that if the Prime Minister has anything to say, he should come and make a statement in Parliament.
“If he has to say anything, he should say it in Parliament. Only then will we consider his word to be authentic. Let him come and make a statement here. Instead of doing this at 12 am in the night, if he can come and speak here, we will be witnesses to it,” he said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a X post on Friday (July 24, 2026), said that before coming to Parliament, Mr. Modi must dismiss Dharmendra Pradhan. He said, “Before coming to Parliament today, dismiss Dharmendra Pradhan, apologise to the students and take strict action against those who ordered the use of lathis, batons, and Pellet Guns to suppress the students’ voices.”
Mr. Kharge stated that the Opposition will be ready to discuss on education system, only after the sacking of Mr. Pradhan.
‘Before coming to Parliament, dismiss Dharmendra Pradhan’: Congress to PM Modi
Congress demands PM Modi dismiss Dharmendra Pradhan and apologise to students before discussing education reforms amid ongoing paper leak controversy.
Congress demands PM Modi dismiss Dharmendra Pradhan and apologise to students before discussing education reforms amid ongoing paper leak controversy.
Soon after the Chair allowed for matters to be raised with permission, LoP in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge rose to begin speaking on police action, including lathi charge, on protesting students in the national capital.
Upon uproar in the House, the Chair adjourned proceedings till noon.
The Lok Sabha is adjourned till noon amid continued Opposition protests.
As the Opposition MPs break into a din again, Speaker Om Birla requests everyone to maintain the decorum of the House and let the proceedings continue.
In Chair: C.P. Radhakrishnan
In Chair: Speaker Om Birla
Speaker Om Birla started the proceedings by paying homage to the martyrs of the Kargil war since July 26, which marks the 27th anniversary of India’s victory, will be a Sunday and Parliament won’t be sitting.
The Opposition’s demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation continued to stall proceedings of the Monsoon Session of Parliament for the fourth day in a row on Thursday (July 23, 2026).
Parliament's Monsoon Session stalls as Opposition demands Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, leading to repeated adjournments.
Published - July 24, 2026 10:34 am IST