New Delhi: BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday urged the Opposition, especially Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, to allow the two Houses to function so that Union Home Minister Amit Shah may address them, a demand being raised by the protesting leaders themselves.
He also criticised LoP Rahul Gandhi, calling him a “hypocrite”, alleging that he was on a different footing when it came to students’ protests against reported examination irregularities in Jharkhand. Many students from the state are also protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, with several on hunger strike for almost a fortnight.
Kharge is the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, while Gandhi is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Both leaders have been leading the Opposition’s demand for the Home Minister to come to the House and speak on alleged excesses and use of guns on protesting students, especially during the July 20 march to Parliament.
“Rahul Gandhi and Kharge-ji create a new story every day. They come with posters calling for Amit Shah. But the respected Home Minister Amit Shah is always there in his designated office from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on all days, even now,” Prasad said, speaking to the media on the Parliament premises.
He added that Parliament must be allowed to function for debates to take place. “If there’s a discussion, then he (Shah) will definitely participate, provide them answers,” he said, accusing Kharge and Gandhi of building “false narratives” before the country.
Reacting to the Congress leaders’ stand on the examination process, Prasad asked why Gandhi was silent on alleged malpractices in Jharkhand. He alleged that the Jharkhand government had outsourced the job to a company that had earlier been blocked in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
“If jobs are being sold there, why is Rahul Gandhi silent? Why is he going to Allahabad and other places to hold dialogues with the youth? And he remains quiet about a government that survives with his party’s support?” he asked.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament 2026, which began on July 20 and is scheduled to end on August 13, has been marked by heated debates and repeated disruptions, with both Houses being regularly adjourned.
Opposition protests over the NEET paper leak, police action against student protesters and alleged misappropriation of Ram Temple donations have disrupted proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Despite this, some bills have been passed without discussion to maintain legislative momentum.
(IANS)
