Parliament’s Monsoon Session is set to resume today after the weekend break, with the Opposition preparing to raise a range of issues on the floor of both Houses. The government, meanwhile, is expected to push for the passage of key bills, setting the stage for another turbulent week.
The session began on the 20th, but proceedings were repeatedly disrupted amid protests linked to the alleged leak of the NEET undergraduate medical entrance exam question paper. A protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar drew students, and a march towards Parliament by a party and student groups led to clashes, with stone-pelting reported and police using batons to disperse the crowd.
Congress and other Opposition parties had insisted they would not allow the Houses to function until then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned over the NEET issue. As a result, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha saw five consecutive days without substantive business.
Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the education portfolio the day before yesterday, following which the 36-day protest at Jantar Mantar ended. However, with Parliament meeting again today, questions remain over whether the Opposition will allow smooth proceedings.
Opposition parties are expected to raise issues including alleged irregularities in donations linked to the Ayodhya Ram temple, price rise, ethanol blending in petrol, and an India–US trade agreement. With sharp exchanges and disruptions anticipated, the session is expected to remain stormy in its second week as well.
