Parliament Monsoon Session Ends Amid Opposition Protests, 12 Bills Passed

The Parliament's Monsoon Session came to an end on Thursday despite ongoing disruptions in both Houses due to opposition protests. After the adjournment, the opposition parties also abstained from the annual tea event in the Speaker's chamber. 

Opposition demands Shah's statement

The opposition frequently disrupted the current session to demand a debate on a number of issues, including the Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation row and alleged police brutality against demonstrators at Jantar Mantar.

The opposition's demand for a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the alleged excesses by the police during the July 20 rally at Jantar Mantar has been the main cause of the disruptions. Despite the parties' demands for his reply in Parliament, Shah indicated on Wednesday that he was prepared to respond to the questions posed by the opposition.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Shah stated,

“The Opposition should, in writing, tell the Speaker whether they want to have a discussion or not by 2 pm today (till the Lok Sabha is adjourned). We are in favour of discussion till late night today as well as tomorrow.”

Rahul Gandhi targets Shah

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, retaliated against Shah by accusing him of being absent for the previous 20 days and claiming that they were now making a desperate effort to regain their position.

A total of 12 unique bills were officially passed by both Houses of Parliament during the Monsoon Session, although the total number of approvals across the two Houses stood at 19. Of these, 11 bills were passed without any formal debate or scrutiny through rapid voice votes amid continuous opposition protests, including a 36-minute period during which 7 bills were passed in the Lok Sabha.