Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Parliament adjourns amid J&K statehood and Ram Temple protests
On Wednesday, something unusual happened in India's Parliament: the people who make laws could not do their normal work.
A big group of lawmakers, called the Opposition, was very upset and protested loudly.
They wanted Jammu and Kashmir, a place in the north of India, to get back its special status as a state.
They also wanted answers about money that was collected for building a temple and about what happened to some students.
Because of all the noise and protests, both houses of Parliament stopped working for the day.
But before that, they did finish two important bills.
One bill lets the Supreme Court of India have more judges, going from 34 judges to 38 judges.
The other bill is about records that banks keep.
A government minister talked with the leader of the Opposition for 50 minutes to try to solve the disagreement, but the houses still closed for the day.
Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day on Wednesday amid noisy protests by Opposition MPs demanding Jammu and Kashmir statehood, a Home Minister statement on alleged police action against students, and accountability on Ram Temple donations.
The Rajya Sabha cleared the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, raising the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges.
The Lok Sabha passed the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026 by voice vote without any discussion.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised the Congress, Communist Party of India and Samajwadi Party for politicising the Ram Temple donations issue and urged Opposition MPs to allow the House to function.
Rijiju held a 50-minute meeting with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to break the deadlock and dismissed rumours of extending the Monsoon Session or convening a special session in mid-August.
- Who
- Opposition MPs led by Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, alongside Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
- What
- Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day amid protests over Jammu and Kashmir statehood, a Home Minister statement on alleged police action against students and Ram Temple donations, while the Rajya Sabha cleared the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 and the Lok Sabha passed the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026.
- When
- Wednesday, during the Monsoon Session.
- Where
- New Delhi, at the Parliament complex, with Opposition MPs marching from Prerna Sthal to Makar Dwar.
- Why
- Opposition MPs demanded statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, a statement from the Home Minister on alleged police action against students, and accountability on Ram Temple donations.
Opposition MPs
Union Government
Ram Temple donations accountability
Opposition MPs
Congress, Communist Party of India and Samajwadi Party demanded accountability over the alleged Ram Temple donations issue.
Union Government
Kiren Rijiju accused these parties of politicising the Ram Temple donations issue.
Functioning of Parliament
Opposition MPs
Opposition MPs led by Rahul Gandhi marched from Prerna Sthal to Makar Dwar and disrupted proceedings to press their demands.
Union Government
Kiren Rijiju urged MPs to allow the House to function, and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan noted that entering the well of the House and displaying placards are prohibited.
- Houses adjourned
- Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
- Supreme Court judges
- Sanctioned strength raised from 34 to 38 judges
- Bill passed by Rajya Sabha
- Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026
- Bill passed by Lok Sabha
- Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026 (by voice vote)
- Opposition demands
- J&K statehood; Home Minister statement on police action against students; Ram Temple donations accountability
- Rijiju-Gandhi meeting
- 50 minutes inside the Parliament complex
- Session extension rumours
- Dismissed by Kiren Rijiju
- Location
- New Delhi