Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Rijiju: Opposition cannot dictate which minister responds in Parliament
In India, there is a big meeting place called Parliament where leaders talk about running the country.
Lately, the government and the Opposition have been arguing a lot there.
Some students were upset because the answers to a big test called NEET were leaked, and the police took action against students who were protesting in New Delhi.
The Congress party and other groups want Home Minister Amit Shah to come and explain what happened.
A minister named Kiren Rijiju said the Opposition cannot choose which minister answers their questions; the government and the Speaker, called the Chair, decide that.
He also said Amit Shah comes to Parliament every day and stays till late night.
Rijiju asked the Opposition to stop shouting and disrupting the meetings.
Even with all the noise, Parliament passed a bill to help small businesses.
Because of the arguments, both Houses were paused until Monday.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told the Lok Sabha that the Opposition cannot dictate which minister comes to the House to respond, as that is decided by the government and the Chair.
Congress and other parties have been demanding that Home Minister Amit Shah answer questions on police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak in New Delhi last month.
Rijiju said Shah comes to Parliament every day and stays till late night, and that his name 'sends shivers down the spine of extremists and terrorists.'
Both Houses faced repeated disruptions and were adjourned until Monday during the Monsoon session that began on July 20.
During nearly 16 minutes of Zero Hour, the Lok Sabha passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 without debate.
- Who
- Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Home Minister Amit Shah, Opposition parties including the Congress and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, and Rajya Sabha Chairperson C P Radhakrishnan
- What
- Rijiju asserted that the Opposition cannot dictate which minister responds in Parliament, amid demands for Amit Shah to address police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak
- When
- Friday, August 7, during the Monsoon session that commenced on July 20
- Where
- Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in New Delhi; the student protests took place at Jantar Mantar
- Why
- The Opposition demanded a response from Amit Shah over police action on students protesting the NEET paper leak in the national capital last month
Opposition (Congress and others)
Government (BJP-led dispensation)
Amit Shah's response on police action
Opposition (Congress and others)
Congress and other parties demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah appear in Parliament to answer questions on the police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak at Jantar Mantar.
Government (BJP-led dispensation)
The government and the Chair decide which minister responds, and the Opposition cannot dictate this; Rijiju noted Shah attends Parliament every day and stays till late night.
Parliamentary disruptions and functioning
Opposition (Congress and others)
Opposition members in both Houses raised slogans and disrupted proceedings to press their demand for a response from Shah.
Government (BJP-led dispensation)
Rijiju said the Opposition should stop disrupting proceedings, asserted the House has functioned and bills have been passed, and accused the Opposition of coming only to raise slogans, disrupt business and go away.
- Date
- August 7 (Friday)
- Location
- Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, New Delhi
- Parliamentary Affairs Minister
- Kiren Rijiju
- Home Minister
- Amit Shah
- Protest trigger
- NEET paper leak; police action at Jantar Mantar
- Monsoon session start
- July 20
- Bill passed without debate
- MSME Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- House status
- Both Houses adjourned until Monday
