The Rajya Sabha session was adjourned during the first hour of the start of the monsoon session of Parliament on Monday, with Opposition Leader Mallikarjun Karge attacking the government for suppressing the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar demanding accountability for competitive examination papers leaks and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
“I am talking about the future of thousands of students. That is why thousands of children came to Jantar Mantar. There was a baton charge. The government is trying to harm them,” Karg said to cheers. “She is trying to suppress them.”
Rajya Sabha Speaker CP Radhakrishnan initially postponed the session till noon amid unrest. The session was adjourned again at noon, to resume at 12:30 p.m., as chaos erupted again.
Thousands gathered at Jantar Mantar on Monday ahead of the CJP’s scheduled march to Parliament to demand Pradhan’s resignation. The police resorted to using batons to disperse the crowd. Delhi Police refused to allow the march and imposed prohibitory orders in most parts of New Delhi.
Opposition parties pushed for discussions on issues including the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, ethnic violence in Manipur, farmers’ concerns and the CJP’s protest, paving the way for a stormy monsoon session. The government called for the establishment of a parliament free of disturbances, warning that frequent disturbances could leave legislation without limited debate.
The monsoon period will last from July 20 to August 13. The government has listed eight bills for introduction or consideration, including legislation to amend the law governing foreign contributions, reform the country’s higher education regulator, and expand legal protection for the national song Vande Mataram.
Two other controversial proposals to create a new higher education regulatory body and automatically disqualify ministers who are detained for 30 days are not on the current legislative agenda.
