Published Jul 21, 2026 | 1:36 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 21, 2026 | 2:00 PM
Protest at Jantar Mantar (CJP/ X)
Synopsis: Opposition MPs to march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan in solidarity with CJP protesters who faced violent police action. Congress MPs submit notices seeking urgent discussion in Parliament on examination irregularities and police crackdown on protesters.
The second day of the Monsoon session of Parliament on Tuesday, 21 July, had a stormy start with multiple adjournments amid protests by Opposition MPs against Monday’s violent crackdown on students and youth protesting examination irregularities. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were initially adjourned till noon, just minutes after the proceedings began. However, as the disruptions continued when the proceedings resumed at 12:00, the Houses were adjourned till 2 PM.
Extending solidarity to the protesters, the Opposition MPs are planning a march from the Parliament to the Rashtrapati Bhavan later on Tuesday. The decision was reportedly taken at a meeting of Opposition floor leaders attended by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and other Opposition leaders. All Opposition parties are expected to take part in the protest march.
Hundreds of protesters, mostly students and youth, were violently beaten up by security forces to disperse a Parliament march led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Monday, 20 July, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over repeated irregularities in examinations conducted by the government, including the NEET-UG paper leak.
The forces, including Delhi police, RAF and CRPF, resorted to baton charge and used tear gas to disperse the protesters who managed to topple police barricades and reach just kilometres away from the Parliament complex. Visuals circulated on social media by several student leaders suggest that police had used brute force on the students, causing seemingly severe injuries to some.
The Opposition MPs, led by Rahul Gandhi, also met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and urged him to allow a discussion in the House on the “brutality unleashed” on students and the government’s “complete lack of accountability.”
“Students were beaten for asking legitimate questions about their own future. If Parliament cannot discuss the future of India’s youth, what is it for? The Opposition will not let this be buried. We will ensure that the students’ voice will be heard on the streets, and in Parliament,” Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post on X.
Earlier on Tuesday, Congress MP KC Venugopal and Manickam Tagore submitted adjournment notices in the Lok Sabha seeking suspension of the day’s business to discuss the police crackdown on protesters and the ongoing crisis in the country’s examination system.
In his notice, Venugopal referred to reports of 152 instances of question paper leaks affecting major competitive examinations, including the NEET-UG. He noted that despite the scale of the issue, no meaningful action had been taken against those responsible. He also demanded that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan make a suo motu statement in the House.
Manickam Tagore raised concerns regarding the police action against the students and youth protesting the examination irregularities while also questioning the suspension of internet services around the Parliament area.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain also submitted a notice seeking urgent discussion on the “systemic crisis” in India’s examination system.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) Parliamentary Party meeting, where he reportedly addressed the NEET paper leak issue for the first time.
According to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, the prime minister told the NDA MPs that preventing examination irregularities is a national responsibility while claiming that his government had taken strict action against those involved in the NEET-UG paper leak.
“Regarding the NEET exam, the Prime Minister stated that the government took immediate action upon receiving reports of irregularities; thirteen individuals were arrested and jailed. Furthermore, prioritising the students’ futures, a re-examination was successfully conducted without delay in declaring the results… He also outlined the stringent steps being taken to avert future leaks… He stressed the need to punish the guilty and collaboratively establish a fool proof system,” Rijiju said.
(Compiled by Fayisa CA)
