Opp protests on NEET paper leak rock Parliament on Day 1 of Monsoon session

NEW DELHI, July 20: Opposition protests over the NEET paper ‘leak’ issue stalled proceedings in both Houses on the opening day of the Monsoon session on Monday, as chaos reigned outside with protesters led by CJP breaking barricades to reach near the Parliament complex to press for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha saw multiple adjournments during the day as opposition MPs raised slogans, showed placards demanding discussions on the NEET paper leak and also on alleged donation theft at Ram temple.
In Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge rose to speak on the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, saying the issue concerned the future of lakhs of students.
“Thousands of students have reached Jantar Mantar (where the protest is on), and they were lathi-charged,” he said.
“The government is trying to browbeat them and suppress the issue,” Kharge said, as Opposition members shouted “shame, shame”. While the Lok Sabha witnessed six adjournments before final adjournment at around 3 pm, the Rajya Sabha saw five adjournments before the proceedings in the Upper House were wrapped up for the day.
A few hundred metres from the Parliament complex, thousands of protesters led by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) tried to march towards the Parliament to demand accountability over alleged examination irregularities and the resignation of Education Minister Pradhan, but were prevented by security personnel.
A few gates of Parliament were also briefly closed as the crowd of protesters attempting to march to the complex swelled in its vicinity, officials said.
Chaotic scenes unfolded as security forces baton-charged and used tear gas to disperse protesters reaching the Constitution Club, the Reserve Bank of India and Shastri Bhavan, all very close to the Parliament House complex.
As soon as the Lok Sabha met at 11 am, opposition members started raising slogans, forcing Speaker Om Birla to adjourn the proceedings till 12 noon as the Question Hour was being taken up. (PTI)