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Amit Shah writes to Speaker Om Birla, says govt ready to discuss student protest
Union home minister Amit Shah urged Speaker Om Birla to consult with the Opposition and to allocate as much time as he deems appropriate
Union home minister Amit Shah wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, saying the government is ready to discuss the student protest, urging him to consult with the Opposition on when they want the discussion and to allocate as much time as he deems appropriate.
Shah cited parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju’s statement at the Business Advisory Committee meeting that the government was ready for a discussion in Parliament on the student agitation and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET (UG) paper leak.
“I would also like to mention that earlier, at the request of the Opposition, a discussion took place in the current session of Parliament on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in which no honourable Member of Parliament from the Opposition expressed any views in the House regarding the NEET examination. Despite this, the government is ready to discuss this issue again,” he said in the letter written in Hindi.
Shah said he wants to be in the House for the discussion and is ready to answer all questions of the Opposition. “Solutions emerge only through discussion and dialogue in a democracy. I have unwavering faith in democracy and democratic institutions, and I believe this House is meant precisely for discussion and dialogue...,” he wrote.
Earlier in the day, Shah said the government is ready for a discussion on the student protests as well as the subsequent police action, provided the Opposition allows the House to run. He maintained that he has been coming regularly to Parliament amid demands for his presence and a statement in the House on the issue.
In a rare statement to journalists outside Parliament, Shah said the Opposition does not want the discussion. He added that the Opposition should submit a letter to the Speaker by 2pm to begin the debate from 3pm (Wednesday).
Parliament’s ongoing monsoon session has largely been washed out over the past two weeks. The Opposition has insisted on Shah’s statement in the House over allegations of police excesses and the use of pellet guns during the July 20 protest march, demanding then Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
On Monday, the supplementary list of business stated that Shah would introduce bills to change the name of Kerala to Keralam, and to amend the National Cooperative Development Corporation Act. Union ministers of state Nityanand Rai and Murlidhar Mohol introduced the bills.
The Opposition has targeted Shah for being “missing” from the House. The government has rejected the description.
Shah slammed the Opposition, saying words such as “missing” and “fugitive” have recently begun to be heard in India’s public and parliamentary discourse. “Ever since the Parliament session began, I have been coming regularly and sitting in my chamber. But the Opposition is not allowing Parliament to function. So, what is the point of anyone going inside when the proceedings are not being allowed to run?”
