Opposition, NDA MPs Stage Rival Protests Outside Parliament Amid Political Standoff
New Delhi: Tensions escalated outside Parliament on Tuesday as Opposition and NDA MPs held separate protests near the Makar Dwar, raising slogans against each other amid the continuing deadlock over the Monsoon Session.
The Opposition MPs demonstrated over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on the recent student protests and also raised the issue of alleged irregularities involving donations to the Ram Temple. In response, NDA MPs organised a counter-protest targeting the Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Amit Shah, student protests at centre of row
The Opposition has been demanding that Amit Shah respond in Parliament over the police action against protesting students. Congress has also sought accountability over the government’s handling of the issue and has repeatedly pressed for a response from the Home Minister.
The government has agreed to a discussion on the matter, with Shah expected to respond. However, the Opposition has maintained that its other demands must also be addressed before the deadlock can be resolved.
Ram Temple donations issue raised
The Opposition also continued to raise allegations concerning the handling of donations linked to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has listed the Ram Temple issue among the party’s key demands for Parliament, alongside the student protest issue and a demand for an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over alleged police excesses.
The government and ruling alliance have rejected the Opposition’s approach and accused it of deliberately disrupting parliamentary proceedings.
NDA protests against Rahul Gandhi
NDA MPs, meanwhile, staged their own demonstration outside Parliament, targeting Rahul Gandhi over the Jharkhand student protests.
The ruling alliance accused the Congress leader of maintaining a double standard by raising concerns over police action against students in Jharkhand while being associated with a government in the state. NDA MPs marched towards Makar Dwar carrying placards and demanded that the Opposition allow Parliament to function.
MPs separated by security personnel
The rival demonstrations resulted in a tense face-off outside the Parliament building. Security personnel formed a human chain between the two groups as Opposition and NDA MPs raised competing slogans.
The confrontation came as repeated disruptions continued to affect proceedings in both Houses, with the two sides remaining sharply divided over the issues they want Parliament to take up.
With the Monsoon Session continuing, there is currently no clear sign of an immediate resolution to the standoff between the government and the Opposition.
