Opposition protests on NEET paper leak rock Parliament on opening day of Monsoon session

NEW DELHI: Opposition protests over the NEET paper 'leak' issue stalled proceedings in both Houses on the opening day of the Monsoon session on Monday, as chaos reigned outside with protesters led by CJP breaking barricades to reach near the Parliament complex to press for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. CJP Parliament March Protest Live Updates

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha saw multiple adjournments during the day as opposition MPs raised slogans, showed placards demanding discussions on the NEET paper leak and also on alleged donation theft at Ram temple.

In Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge rose to speak on the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, saying the issue concerned the future of lakhs of students. "Thousands of students have reached Jantar Mantar (where the protest is on), and they were lathi-charged," he said.

"The government is trying to browbeat them and suppress the issue," Kharge said, as Opposition members shouted "shame, shame". DMK members wearing green stole vociferously protested over Tamil Nadu's water dispute with Karnataka. Before the proceedings were adjourned, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced a bill to replace an ordinance which increased the number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India. But in the Rajya Sabha, a bill to make insult to Vande Mataram a punishable offence could not be introduced due to the protests.

Lok Sabha witnessed 6 adjournments

While the Lok Sabha witnessed six adjournments before final adjournment at around 3 pm, the Rajya Sabha saw five adjournments before the proceedings in the Upper House were wrapped up for the day.

A few hundred metres from the Parliament complex, thousands of protesters led by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) tried to march towards the Parliament to demand accountability over alleged examination irregularities and the resignation of Education Minister Pradhan , but were prevented by security personnel.

A few gates of Parliament were also briefly closed as the crowd of protesters attempting to march to the complex swelled in its vicinity, officials said. Chaotic scenes unfolded as security forces baton-charged and used tear gas to disperse protesters reaching the Constitution Club, the Reserve Bank of India and Shastri Bhavan, all very close to the Parliament House complex. An MP raised the issue when the House met at 2 PM.

The lawmaker said some members were stopped from entering the Parliament complex, to which the Chair, Jagdambika Pal, said all MPs were being allowed. As soon as the Lok Sabha met at 11 am, opposition members started raising slogans, forcing Speaker Om Birla to adjourn the proceedings till 12 noon as the Question Hour was being taken up. Birla objected to two members raising slogans when obituary references were read out on the demise of six former MPs, saying it was not a good precedent.

When the House met again at 12 noon, noisy protests continued and the House was adjourned till 12:30 pm. Dilip Saikia, who was in the Chair in Lok Sabha, asked the opposition members repeatedly to go back to their seats and participate in the proceedings. "The House is ready for discussions on various issues. But you are not interested. You don't want to discuss people's issues. This is not the way. "You are disrupting the House repeatedly. You are showing banners and posters which is not acceptable," he said. As the opposition ignored his appeal, Saikia adjourned the House. Rajya Sabha saw its first adjournment soon after the laying of papers, oath-taking by newly-elected members and obituary references. After the papers were tabled, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge rose to speak on the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.

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Opposition in favour of students

Opposition members continued raising slogans in favour of protesting students and the subsequent police action against them. They were also raising slogans against donation theft at Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Deputy Chairman Harivansh urged them to maintain decorum.

"The House is for dialogue and discussion. Please, let us debate," he said, adding that since morning, no work has happened in the House. "Please maintain the decorum of the House," he urged. When the members refused to relent, he adjourned the House. Outside the House,

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the government over police lathi-charging protesters and demanded that a detailed discussion on the paper leaks issue should take place in Parliament and Prime Minister Narendra Modi respond to the concerns of the country's youth. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi dubbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the "most anti-youth" PM in the country's history.