NEW DELHI — High political tension gripped the Parliament premises on Thursday as lawmakers from both the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition INDIA bloc held competing demonstrations at Makar Dwar during a stormy Monsoon Session.
The protests centered on ongoing allegations of irregularities in competitive examinations, including NEET-UG 2026, amidst escalating street demonstrations across the capital.
Protests and Scuffles Inside Parliament Complex
The political faceoff inside the parliamentary complex saw heightened agitation from both sides of the aisle:
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Opposition Demands: Senior Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined Opposition MPs demanding the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Demonstrators held placards calling for strict accountability and systemic examination reforms.
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NDA Counter-Demonstration: Ruling coalition MPs staged a counter-protest criticizing Opposition leaders for inciting student unrest, targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over recent demonstrations near the Prime Minister’s residence.
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Floor Scuffle: Physical friction broke out briefly outside Makar Dwar when ruling coalition members attempted to seize a protest placard from Congress MP Prashant Padole, underscoring the severe friction between the two sides.
Government Response and Opposition Rebuttal
Amid continuing protests at Jantar Mantar and inside Parliament, senior leadership exchanged strong statements over student welfare and judicial oversight:
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Fast-Track Courts Announced: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting students’ interests, announcing plans to establish fast-track courts to ensure swift prosecution and stringent punishment for those implicated in paper leak networks.
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Opposition Counter-Attack: Rebuffing the Prime Minister’s assurances, Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that systemic governance failures led to the widespread disruption of national competitive exams, repeating calls for the Education Minister’s dismissal and structural overhauls.
