Bills passed without debate; Opposition and BJP face off outside

BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal, who led the NDA protests, said, “We are ready for a detailed discussion (on students’ agitation), but Rahul Gandhi, by changing the goalpost every day, still does not let Parliament function. The Home Minister is ready to answer every question.” Sources said the decision to hold the protest was taken at the NDA’s weekly meeting. It was decided that all senior MPs, except the ministers, would join the demonstration.

As the Samajwadi Party (SP) contingent led the Opposition protest, Priyanka Gandhi addressed the BJP MPs, telling them that Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, had “met students from Jharkhand”. The BJP’s Surat MP, Mukesh Dalal, responded by asking the Wayanad MP why the LoP had not visited Jharkhand yet.

Targeting the BJP, Priyanka Gandhi said, “For the first time, I am seeing ruling party MPs protesting. We have forced them to do so. Now they should come forward and make a statement.”

A few metres away, the BJP’s Tarun Chugh and Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad got into a heated exchange and shouted slogans at each other — “Rahul Gandhi maafi mange (Rahul Gandhi apologise)” and “Amit Shah maafi maange (Amit Shah apologise)”—  even as senior security officials stepped in to ensure the situation did not spiral out of control.

“Rahul Gandhi’s double-face has been exposed. Whether it is the streets or Parliament, his dual character has emerged. You don’t have a single word to say against the atrocities being committed against students by police in Jharkhand. On the one hand, you tried to hatch a conspiracy to politically hijack the students’ protest at Jantar Mantar; Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government accepted all their demands, but a twin face when it comes to Jharkhand?” said Chugh, a Rajya Sabha MP.

“Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s concern towards students’ issues is very clear; he always wants to stand with students and has categorically stated that the attack on students in Ranchi is unacceptable, emphasising that their demands must be met and negotiated peacefully. The way the BJP and the RSS are getting involved to politicise the student movement is unacceptable,” Congress whip in the Lok Sabha, Manickam Tagore, said.

SP’s Rajya Sabha MP Ram Gopal Yadav targeted the NDA over the Ram Temple issue, saying, “The temple donation theft case is not just national; it’s international. Billions of dollars have been sent from abroad, but we can’t trace where the gold and silver have gone. There’s no account for it… They’re toying with people’s faith. We cannot let go of this issue.”

Congress MP and communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at Shah, saying, “After all that planting of news and desperate attempts to shift the narrative, the Union Home Minister was a no-show in the Lok Sabha today as well, even though he had business listed against his name. Once again, he has proved that those who intimidate are themselves cowards.”

Ramesh said that “for 17 days, Mr Amit Shah has been missing from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, which is truly unprecedented”.

Inside the House

The Lok Sabha passed without debate two more Bills, including one seeking to rename Kerala as Keralam, as the Opposition continued to protest, demanding the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the House over alleged police excesses against student protesters in Delhi on July 20. The Monsoon Session is set to conclude on August 13.

As Question Hour began earlier in the day, Speaker Om Birla appealed to all parties to cooperate in ensuring the smooth conduct of proceedings. Birla said both the principal demands of the Opposition had been accepted and that the Home Minister would participate in the discussion on the students’ agitation. With Opposition MLAs bringing placards and banners into the House, Birla said it was not in keeping with the dignity and decorum of the House. As the disruptions continued, he adjourned the proceedings until 2 pm.

After the House reassembled at 2 pm amid uproar, the Opposition MPs continued to raise slogans and carry placards to the Well. TDP MPÂ Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was on the chair, allowed laying of papers on the table amid the din. Shah was absent from the House even though the list of business for the day indicated that he would move the two Bills listed against his name.

Subsequently, MoS (Home) Nityanand Rai moved the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, that seeks to change the state’s name to Keralam. The Bill was passed by voice vote without any debate amid sloganeering. Soon afterwards, MoS for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol moved the National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which was also passed without debate amid the continued ruckus.

The Rajya Sabha, meanwhile, passed a Bill to set up a National Tribunal Commission to select chairpersons and members for various tribunals across the country. The Lok Sabha had passed it on Monday. The Opposition INDIA bloc parties had staged a walkout during the post-lunch sitting, alleging that Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge was not allowed to speak during the debate.