Ruling coalition and opposition MPs came face-to-face at Parliament's main gate on Tuesday, staging rival demonstrations and trading slogans over alleged police action on Jharkhand job aspirants and accusations of theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram temple, the Economic Times reported.
Security forms cordon as slogans rise
Security personnel formed a cordon between the two groups as MPs from the NDA and the INDIA bloc raised counter-slogans and held placards setting out their demands. The confrontation unfolded after the NDA parliamentary meeting and as both sides attempted to press their points in the Parliament House complex.
- NDA MPs marched from the Parliament Library towards the main entrance, Makar Dwar, after their weekly 'Mangal Milan' parliamentary party meeting and chanted slogans including "Rahul Gandhi Jawab Do" and "Rahul Gandhi Bhago Maat", the report said.
- INDIA bloc MPs demanded answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged police excesses during protests by students and job aspirants in Jharkhand on July 20, the Economic Times reported.
Arguments and demands
NDA members accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of avoiding a parliamentary debate on student protests. The government had announced that Home Minister Amit Shah would address Parliament on the issue of student demonstrations sweeping various parts of the country.
However, Rahul Gandhi is reported to have questioned the relevance of Mr Shah's intervention, saying the country wanted to know whether the Home Minister had ordered the use of pellet guns or other force against protesting students, rather than hear a general opinion, according to the report.
"The country is not interested in Shah's opinion in Parliament on 'general topics' and wants to know if he ordered firing of pellet guns at protesting students," the report said, citing Rahul Gandhi's stance.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said Gandhi's mindset had been exposed, while other NDA members alleged serious excesses in Jharkhand. The report quoted BJP MP Kangana Ranaut as saying that children in Jharkhand were being subjected to atrocities and that water cannons, tear gas and beatings were being used; she said the House must demand answers.
Opposition MPs, including Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akilesh Yadav, also protested in the Parliament House complex over the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the reported police excesses against students and job aspirants, the Economic Times said.
Immediate parliamentary context and consequences
The confrontation came on the heels of national agitation by students and aspirants over leaked examination papers and alleged irregularities that triggered protests in several states. The mobilisation has already prompted the Centre to order inquiries at multiple levels and sparked political debate in Parliament.
| Side | Primary demand/accusation |
|---|---|
| NDA MPs | Wanted Rahul Gandhi to answer on student protests; criticised opposition stance |
| INDIA bloc MPs | Demanded accountability from Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged police excesses in Jharkhand; raised Ram temple donation theft claims |
The face-off underscored heightened tensions in and around Parliament as the government and opposition sparred over responsibility for recent unrest and for ensuring accountability in the states. With both sides maintaining firm lines, the incident is likely to shape exchanges in forthcoming parliamentary sittings as the House considers the latest developments involving student protests and claims relating to Ayodhya.
As reported, security teams maintained distance between the groups and prevented physical confrontation while MPs continued to shout slogans and hold placards. No injuries or arrests were mentioned in the Economic Times account.
Further developments are expected as the Home Minister's scheduled debate in Parliament proceeds and parties press for inquiries and responses on the specific allegations raised on Tuesday.
