Rajya Sabha adjourned for day as Opposition protests over temple funds and police action

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Friday (July 31, 2026) shortly after it convened at 11 a.m., as Opposition members staged a noisy protest over two separate issues – the alleged misappropriation of funds meant for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, and the alleged use of force by police against students during a protest on July 20.

Opposition MPs stood near their seats and raised slogans, demanding that Home Minister Amit Shah come to the House and make a statement on the police action. They also pressed for an immediate discussion on the Ram Temple donation issue, citing serious irregularities in the collection and use of funds as well as in land acquisition.

When Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge sought to speak, Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan initially refused. He remarked that the Congress party was still in “Emergency mode”, a reference to the 1975-77 national Emergency. “You are in Emergency mode till today. You want everybody to listen, but you don’t want to listen to anyone. This is dictatorship. You don’t want to value democratic values,” Mr. Radhakrishnan said, adding that the Opposition was not following parliamentary norms.

Later, the Chairman allowed Mr. Kharge to speak but categorically ruled that no notices under Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook would be admitted. Rule 267 enables the suspension of the scheduled business of the day to take up a specific issue. Mr. Kharge had submitted a notice under this rule to raise the alleged irregularities in the Ram Temple donations and related land dealings. When the Home Minister’s response was sought, the Chairman asked, “What does the Home Minister have to do with the Zero Hour?”

The July 20 incident, which also figured in the protest, pertains to a demonstration by students against an alleged paper leak. Police intervened to disperse the crowd, and reports suggested that pellet guns were used. The Opposition has demanded a statement from Mr. Shah, who heads the Ministry of Home Affairs, and has called for his resignation. The government has not yet responded to these demands.

As the slogans intensified, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan condemned the Opposition’s conduct, describing it as “sadak-chhap” politics and accusing members of “playing with the dignity of the House”. He said that the protesters were not interested in a meaningful debate and were instead seeking to disrupt proceedings.

The Chairman allowed members to raise issues listed for the Zero Hour, but the Opposition continued to persist with its slogans. With no let-up in the protests, Mr. Radhakrishnan adjourned the House for the day, leaving the scheduled legislative business pending.

The developments come at a time when parliamentary exchanges have been particularly strained. The Opposition has repeatedly sought discussions on matters it considers crucial, including alleged irregularities in examinations and the use of force against civilians. The government has maintained that it is willing to discuss issues within the framework of rules, but has accused the Opposition of resorting to obstructionist tactics.

Friday’s adjournment marks yet another instance of lost parliamentary time. With the Monsoon Session likely to have a limited number of sittings, both the treasury benches and the Opposition face the challenge of ensuring that essential legislation is passed. However, the immediate standoff shows no signs of resolution, as each side accuses the other of undermining democratic debate.