Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Congress Boycotts Rajasthan Assembly Over School Entry Restrictions
Congress members in Rajasthan protested a rule limiting outsiders and reporters from entering government schools.
They said the rule could stop people from seeing problems in the schools.
The group visited a school for hearing-impaired children in Jaipur but was not allowed inside.
They then marched toward the state Assembly.
Police stopped them with barricades, and a short scuffle was reported.
Congress members later held a sit-in outside the Assembly and asked the education minister to resign.
BJP leaders said Congress should have attended the Assembly session.
One BJP leader claimed they stayed away to avoid singing the full Vande Mataram.
Congress MLAs boycotted the first day of Rajasthan Assembly’s monsoon session over restrictions on outsider and media entry into government schools.
Led by Leader of Opposition Tikaram Julie, Congress leaders were denied entry to a Jaipur school for hearing-impaired children and marched toward the Assembly.
Police used barricades to stop the protesters, prompting a brief scuffle before Congress leaders sat on a dharna outside the Assembly.
Congress accused the government of hiding poor school conditions and demanded Education Minister Madan Dilawar’s resignation.
BJP leaders and Assembly officials criticized Congress’s absence, with Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg alleging it sought to avoid singing the full Vande Mataram.
- Who
- Congress MLAs and workers led by Leader of Opposition Tikaram Julie, along with BJP leaders, Rajasthan Assembly officials and police.
- What
- Congress boycotted Assembly proceedings and protested restrictions on outsider and media entry into government schools.
- When
- The first day of the Rajasthan Assembly’s monsoon session, on Thursday.
- Where
- A government school for hearing-impaired children in Jaipur and outside the Rajasthan Assembly.
- Why
- Congress said the restrictions could conceal poor school conditions; BJP leaders criticized the boycott and alleged it was intended to avoid singing the full Vande Mataram.
Congress’s position
BJP and Assembly officials’ position
School entry restrictions
Congress’s position
Congress said limiting public and media access to government schools prevented people from seeing poor conditions and pledged to expose shortcomings across Rajasthan.
BJP and Assembly officials’ position
BJP leaders and government officials defended the government’s position by criticizing Congress’s protest and conduct, while the articles do not provide a detailed justification for the entry restrictions.
Assembly boycott
Congress’s position
Congress MLAs stayed away from the proceedings and protested outside the House over school-entry restrictions, demanding the education minister’s resignation.
BJP and Assembly officials’ position
Speaker Vasudev Devnani, Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg and Minister Jogaram Patel criticized the absence, calling it disappointing or regrettable; Garg alleged Congress wanted to avoid singing the full Vande Mataram.
Assembly gate confrontation
Congress’s position
Congress protesters objected after being stopped while trying to enter and later held a dharna outside; one report said some leaders climbed barricades during a brief scuffle with police.
BJP and Assembly officials’ position
Assembly officials said security personnel had allowed MLAs to enter one by one, but Congress members refused that arrangement.
- State
- Rajasthan
- Session
- First day of the Rajasthan Assembly’s monsoon session
- Protest leader
- Leader of Opposition Tikaram Julie, also reported as Tika Ram Jully
- School
- A Jaipur government school for hearing-impaired children, identified in one report as Poddar School for Deaf and Mute
- Congress demand
- Resignation of Education Minister Madan Dilawar
- Protest action
- Congress leaders marched to the Assembly, encountered barricades and held a sit-in outside
- BJP allegation
- Congress stayed away from proceedings to avoid singing the full Vande Mataram
- Proceedings
- The Assembly was adjourned until Friday after obituary references and some legislative business
