The Monsoon Session of Parliament witnessed another stormy day on Monday as the Opposition intensified its attack on the Centre over the use of force against student protesters during the July 20 Cockroach
Janta Party (CJP) march, while the government pressed ahead with its legislative agenda by introducing amendments to tighten India’s anti-paper leak law.
The day also saw former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who resigned last week following the CJP agitation, receive a rousing welcome from BJP MPs, turning Parliament into a battleground as the Opposition saw red.
Opposition Stages Protest, Demands Amit Shah’s Apology
Before Parliament convened, Congress MPs, joined by leaders from several INDIA bloc parties, held a demonstration in the Parliament complex against the police action on students during the July 20 protest march.
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Holding placards and raising slogans, the MPs demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah apologise for the “police brutality” and sought accountability for the use of pellet guns against protesters. They also demanded action against officials responsible for the incident. According to Congress leaders, the issue was not merely about examination reforms but about the government’s handling of peaceful student demonstrations.
Several opposition MPs wore black attire as a mark of protest and sought a discussion on the issue inside Parliament.
Lok Sabha Adjourned Amid Sloganeering
The confrontation quickly spilled inside the Lok Sabha. As soon as the House assembled, opposition members raised slogans over the police action against students and demanded a discussion. The uproar forced Speaker Om Birla to adjourn proceedings till noon.
Despite repeated appeals from the Chair to allow Question Hour to continue, protesting MPs remained in the Well of the House, prompting the adjournment.
Government Tables Tougher Anti-Paper Leak Bill
After the House reconvened, Union Minister Jitendra Singh introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026.
The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen the anti-paper leak framework enacted earlier by introducing stricter penalties for organised cheating networks, examination centres and institutions found complicit in unfair practices.
The amendments also provide for enhanced investigations, faster prosecution and greater accountability of entities involved in conducting public examinations.
The government argued that the Bill represents a systemic response to examination malpractices and complements Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of a high-powered task force headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani to overhaul India’s examination ecosystem.
BJP Slams Opposition
The BJP accused the Opposition of deliberately disrupting Parliament to avoid debating the government’s reform measures.
Several NDA leaders said Opposition parties had repeatedly demanded stronger laws against paper leaks but were now preventing Parliament from discussing the very legislation aimed at addressing the problem.
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut alleged that the Opposition was unwilling to allow the House to function, irrespective of the importance of the issues being discussed.
Dharmendra Pradhan Gets Hero’s Welcome
One of the biggest political moments of the day came when former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan entered Parliament for the first time after resigning over the CJP agitation.
BJP MPs greeted him with loud chants of “Dharmendra Pradhan Zindabad”, applauding him as he walked into the House. Several NDA MPs shook hands with him and patted him on the back in a show of solidarity.
The display put the spotlight on BJP’s effort to project Pradhan’s resignation as a political sacrifice rather than an admission of wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, opposition MPs responded with slogans of their own, accusing the government of attempting to shield those responsible for the examination crisis.
Pellet Gun Controversy Continues
The Opposition’s protests came a day after reports emerged that an internal inquiry by the CRPF had found that an RAF personnel had fired seven rounds from a pellet gun during the July 20 Parliament march, with several pellets striking protesters.
The findings have intensified demands from opposition parties for a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah and a discussion on the use of force against students. The Centre, however, has maintained that law enforcement agencies acted to control a protest that had turned violent.
