Opposition presses for Ayodhya donation row, student protest discussion as Parliament deadlock persists

The standoff between the government and the Opposition over Parliament proceedings showed no signs of easing on Monday, with Opposition parties reiterating their demand for discussions on the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the police action against students protesting the alleged NEET paper leak.

During meetings of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, Opposition members insisted that Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement in Parliament on the alleged "police excesses" against students, while also seeking a discussion on the Ayodhya temple donation controversy, sources said.

Also Read: Opposition MPs protest in Parliament complex on Ram temple donation theft issue, police action against students


According to the sources, both the government and the Opposition remained firm on their respective positions, indicating that the parliamentary stalemate is likely to continue.

Even as repeated disruptions by Opposition members overshadowed proceedings, both Houses cleared key legislations during the day.

The Lok Sabha passed the **Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026**, replacing an ordinance that raises the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38. The bill was passed without a debate amid persistent sloganeering by Opposition members over the NEET paper leak and the alleged theft of Ram temple donations.

The Rajya Sabha, meanwhile, passed the **Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026**, which seeks to speed up resolution of payment disputes, improve recovery mechanisms and strengthen liquidity for MSMEs despite continued protests by Opposition members.

The government accused the Congress of deliberately disrupting proceedings instead of participating in debates on important legislation.

Reacting to the disruptions, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "Today, two very important bills were passed -- one regarding increasing the number of judges in the Supreme Court and another concerning MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises). There was nobody left in the opposition who wanted to participate."

"We urged everyone and I even asked Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge ji to reason with his Congress MPs so they would at least participate in the bill discussion. But he couldn't even manage his own Congress MPs; their behaviour was terrible," Rijiju said.

Targeting the Congress leadership, he added, "Rahul Gandhi ji didn't even show up today, and no one else could guide them. The Congress party has completely fallen apart. Such important bills came up, yet they chose not to participate."

Also Read: Lok Sabha Question Hour disrupted again as Opposition protests over NEET paper leak, Ram Temple donation row

"The Congress leaders go outside and claim they are not given a chance to speak when the government genuinely wants all MPs to speak on important bills," he said.

"I am deeply hurt. My biggest sorrow is that there is no one left to guide Congress MPs anymore. That is a very sad state of affairs," Rijiju added.

Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, who attended the BAC meeting, said the Opposition had reiterated the same demands it had been raising since the beginning of the session.

"Our demand is clear; PM Modi may have forgiven students but the youth of the country have not forgiven the home minister. It is a clear demand of the Congress that the home minister should come to the House and give a statement on the action by security forces on the protesting students on July 20," Gogoi told reporters.

"We have seen how girls and boys are being targeted. The (BJP) IT cell people have fallen to the extent that girls are being abused online. Will an FIR be filed against IT cell people who are abusing girls and their parents and making their numbers and addresses public?" he asked.

Gogoi also pressed for a discussion on the Ayodhya temple donation controversy.

"If you can hold a discussion on the NEET examination, then you should also discuss the Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust, where it has now come to light that crores of rupees in donation money have allegedly ended up in the VHP office. This is a very serious, shocking, unfortunate and deeply painful matter," he said.

"Shouldn't the prime minister speak on this issue?" Gogoi added.