NEW DELHI: 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
