Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Session ends as Kharge rally ‘purification’ row rocks Rajya Sabha on last day
Parliament monsoon session LIVE updates: LoP Rahul Gandhi described Shah's offer as a “last-minute attempt” and said the Opposition was not interested in listening to a lecture from the home minister.
Parliament monsoon session LIVE updates: Parliament is set for a tense close to the Monsoon Session on Thursday, with the government and Opposition still locked in a standoff over student protests and the demand for accountability over police action....Read More
The session is scheduled to conclude today. Despite efforts to break the deadlock on the penultimate day, repeated disruptions have kept the two sides at odds. The standoff came into sharper focus on Wednesday when Union home minister Amit Shah offered to hold a discussion on the student protests and police action.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government is ready for discussions. The House should be allowed to run, the Opposition should submit a letter to the speaker by 2pm today. We are ready to start discussion at 3pm today,” Shah said in a rare media interaction outside Parliament.
Shah also wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla conveying the government's readiness to participate in the discussion. The Opposition, however, rejected the proposal.
Rahul Gandhi calls it ‘last-minute attempt’
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi described Shah's offer as a “last-minute attempt” and said the Opposition was not interested in listening to a lecture from the home minister.
The disagreement has centred on the Opposition's demand for statements from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah over police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak. The Opposition has alleged that students faced pellet guns, lathi charges and tear gas during protests at Jantar Mantar.
The government has maintained that it is willing to discuss the issue, but differences over the scope and format of the debate have repeatedly led to disruptions.
FCRA bill sent to JPC
Amid the continuing standoff, the Lok Sabha on Wednesday moved the controversial Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill to a 31-member joint parliamentary committee.
The panel will have 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, with a BJP member expected to head it.
The bill, which was introduced in the previous session but held back, has faced opposition from several political parties, church delegations and chief ministers of three Christian-majority states. Critics have raised concerns over its proposed changes to India's foreign contribution law.
Minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai moved the resolution to constitute the JPC. The Opposition said it would participate in the committee but continue to oppose the legislation.
‘RSS getting foreign donations,’ says Venugopal
“Even in the JPC, we will continue to strongly oppose this bill and will not allow these unconstitutional and coercive provisions to become law,” Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said.
“On one side, the RSS is getting donations from foreign countries, while on the other side, the government is trying to target minorities and NGOs. The government should withdraw this bill,” he added.
Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju defended the decision to refer the bill to the JPC, pointing out that the Opposition had itself been seeking such a move.
“Yet, even when we are referring such an important bill (to a panel), these people have objections. If KC Venugopal or a member of any other party finds anything objectionable in this bill, or if there is any point they wish to oppose, they can present their views in the JPC. The JPC will have sufficient time; hearings will be held, and other people will also be invited to participate. Instead of being pleased about this, they are speaking against it.”
Rijiju also rejected suggestions that the government had been pressured into referring the bill to a parliamentary panel, saying the move was intended to facilitate a detailed examination of the legislation.
What lies ahead on the final day
With only hours left before the session ends, the key question is whether the government and Opposition can find common ground to allow Parliament to function on its final day.
The student protests have remained one of the biggest flashpoints of the session. The Opposition has repeatedly sought accountability over alleged police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak, while the government has maintained that it is ready for a discussion.
The two sides, however, remain divided over the terms of that discussion.
The Lok Sabha also passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, on Wednesday. The legislation seeks to facilitate mineral exploration, particularly of critical and strategic minerals, and gives mining lease holders greater flexibility to seek the inclusion of additional minerals in existing leases.
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- 13 Aug 2026, 12:22:28 PM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Register case against those who purified stage, says Kharge
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday alleged that people associated with the BJP purified the stage at Ramlila Maidan in Uttarakhand's Haldwani where he had delivered a speech.
Kharge, who is also the Congress president, demanded that cases be registered under the Untouchability Act against those who purified the stage in Haldwani and that they be arrested and sent to jail.
Kharge said the act was also condemned by Union minister JP Nadda.
- 13 Aug 2026, 12:12:21 PM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Thursday, bringing the Monsoon Session of Parliament to a close.
The Upper House was adjourned indefinitely after a session marked by repeated disruptions and a standoff between the government and Opposition over several contentious issues including the Uttarakhand purification row on last day.
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- 13 Aug 2026, 12:05:01 PM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Rajya Sabha passes Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill on last day of the session
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, clearing the legislation in the Upper House.
The bill seeks to facilitate mineral exploration and development, particularly of critical and strategic minerals, while providing greater flexibility to mining lease holders.
- 13 Aug 2026, 11:45:05 AM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: ‘Uttarakhand needs purification from such ideology,' says Congress' Selja
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Congress MP Kumari Selja hit out at the BJP over the shuddhikaran (purification) havan held at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan after a rally addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
“It is a disgrace to the BJP-RSS government and their ideology that, on the one hand, they talk about organizing 'Tiranga Yatras' and engage in such publicity, while on the other, the principle of equality, guaranteed by our Constitution and upheld by the nation and the world, is being blatantly violated regarding our leader and the Leader of the Opposition,” news agency ANI quotes her as saying.
Referring to the ritual at the venue where Kharge had addressed a rally, Selja asked, “What kind of 'purification' is this?”
She added, “It is Uttarakhand that needs purification, purification from such an ideology, such a mindset, such a vile mentality as theirs.”
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- 13 Aug 2026, 11:41:37 AM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: JP Nadda responds to Kharge's charge in Rajya Sabha
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Leader of the House and Union minister JP Nadda responded to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s remarks on the Haldwani shuddhikaran row in Rajya Sabha, saying the BJP does not support such activities.
“What Kharge ji said is really sad - not just for Congress party but for all of us...BJP does not subscribe to such activities. Never. But we will investigate this,” Nadda said.
He assured the House that the incident would be investigated and said the BJP national president would look into the matter.
“I condemn this. National president will look into this. It is a matter of great regret for all of us that your sentiments were hurt,” Nadda said.
- 13 Aug 2026, 11:38:25 AM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Kharge questions democracy, says 'I am the LoP’ over purification row
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge raised the Haldwani shuddhikaran row in the House, questioning the BJP over the lleged havan conducted at the Ramlila Maidan after his rally.
During his address, Kharge said, “I was in Haldwani where I made a public speech at Ramlila Maidan. Lakhs of people were there. At that time, I did not mention the name of any community or religion; I only reiterated the issues of the Govt. But after my speech, people of BJP performed a havan there to 'purify' that stage".
He questioned whether such an act was appropriate in a democracy and raised concerns over constitutional values.
“Is this the way in a democracy? How are you protecting the Constitution? I am the LoP...” he added.
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- 13 Aug 2026, 11:32:26 AM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Kharge condemns ‘shuddhikaran’, says it is ‘against Hinduism’
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Congress MP and Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the shuddhikaran (purification) ritual held at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground after his rally, saying the act was aimed at creating caste divisions.
“Let them perform a havan. We have been saying from the beginning that there is no place in this country for Dalits to progress. In the name of religion, they are trying to divide everyone. What was the need for 'shuddhikaran' there? What they have done is against Hinduism and, on top of that, they are trying to divide the country and create caste conflicts. I condemn this,” Kharge said.
- 13 Aug 2026, 11:24:13 AM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: What is the ‘shuddhikaran’ row?
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: A political row erupted in Uttarakhand after a shuddhikaran (purification) ceremony was held at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground following a rally addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on August 8.
Uttarakhand Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal alleged that the Shri Ram Sena, the group that conducted the ritual, was associated with the BJP. The BJP has strongly denied the allegation.
Godiyal alleged that the ritual was carried out because Kharge belongs to the Dalit community and accused the BJP of promoting caste-based divisions.
Calling the ceremony a “crime against humanity”, the Congress leader said the incident reflected what he described as a fundamental ideological difference between the Congress and BJP.
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- 13 Aug 2026, 11:23:04 AM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: JP Nadda condemns ‘purification’ ritual, promises probe
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: BJP president JP Nadda on Thursday condemned the shuddhikaran (purification) ritual carried out at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally.
Nadda said the BJP respects Kharge and his sentiments and assured that the matter would be investigated.
- 13 Aug 2026, 11:20:06 AM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Kharge slams govt over ‘purification’ row
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hit out at the government over a shuddhikaran (purification) ritual conducted at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground after he addressed a rally there on August 8, calling it a reflection of an “anti-Dalit mindset”.
Kharge alleged that the incident had exposed the mindset of those who carried out the ritual following his rally.
BJP president JP Nadda responded by saying that the party respects Kharge and his sentiments, amid the political row over the incident.
The controversy erupted in Uttarakhand after the Shri Ram Sena performed the shuddhikaran ritual at the venue following Kharge’s rally, triggering a war of words between the Congress and BJP.
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- 13 Aug 2026, 11:13:53 AM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Lok Sabha session ends without Amit Shah’s address
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Thursday, bringing the Monsoon Session to an end without Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressing the House on the student protest row.
Shah had offered to hold a discussion on the issue on the penultimate day of the session, but the Opposition rejected the proposal, insisting that the home minister make a statement in the House.
- 13 Aug 2026, 11:06:41 AM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Lok Sabha adjourned sine die
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Thursday minutes after proceeding began, bringing the Monsoon Session of Parliament to a close.
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- 13 Aug 2026, 11:03:48 AM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Oppn stages protest, chants, ‘56 inch ka chhota bandar, jaldi aao sadan ke andar'
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Opposition MPs, led by Congress MP Pawan Khera, staged a protest on the Parliament premises on Thursday, carrying a toy monkey and raising slogans targeting the government.
The protesters chanted, “56 inch ka chhota bandar, jaldi aao sadan ke andar”, as the Opposition stepped up its demonstrations on the final day of the Monsoon Session.
- 13 Aug 2026, 10:53:39 AM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: TMC MP targets Amit Shah, alleges, ‘Contempt for Parliament’
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: TMC MP Sagarika Ghose on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah of showing “utter disrespect” towards Parliament during the Monsoon Session.
“During the Monsoon Session 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have shown utter disrespect towards the House and Parliament. They have insulted the institution and displayed contempt for Parliament,” Ghose said, reported PTI.
She claimed the Opposition had been demanding a discussion on the NEET issue and the alleged use of pellet guns against unarmed students for weeks, but alleged that neither Modi nor Shah came to the House to address the concerns.
“The Home Minister did not come to the House even for a single moment. The Prime Minister did not come to the House even for a single moment... not to listen, not to sit, not even for a moment,” she said.
“The fact that you ignored the people's voice throughout the session and, at the very end, claimed that you were ready for a discussion shows that you were never serious about the issue. You never treated it with the seriousness it deserved,” she said.
She accused the home minister of showing “utter disrespect” towards the House and Parliament during the Monsoon Session.
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- 13 Aug 2026, 10:47:00 AM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: ‘Chor aaya’ chants rock premises on final day
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Opposition MPs staged a protest on the Parliament premises on the last day of the Monsoon Session, raising slogans of “Chor aaya, Chor aaya” over the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case.
- 13 Aug 2026, 10:32:16 AM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Amit Shah has 'exposed' Rahul Gandhi, says Giriraj Singh
Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Union minister Giriraj Singh hit out at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of avoiding a discussion on the student protests and challenging his conduct in Parliament.
Singh said Gandhi had “no guts to discuss NEET” and claimed that a debate on the pellet gun issue would also bring up the NEET controversy and similar issues in states including Punjab, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand.
He defended home minister Amit Shah, saying Shah had “exposed” Gandhi by offering to hold a discussion. Singh also cited the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A and the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as examples of Shah's work.
Targeting Gandhi, Singh further said, “Rahul Gandhi is the name of a man who is like an unruly child in a village. Look at his expressions and words," reported news agency ANI.
He added, “A parliamentary system has some decorum. Will you make comparisons with Amit Shah?”
Singh also accused Gandhi of acting like a “hit-and-run” politician and alleged that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was indulging in “chamchagiri” of Gandhi.
“You act like a hit-and-run. Amit Shah has exposed. He (Lok Sabha LoP) has no guts to discuss NEET,” Singh said.
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- 13 Aug 2026, 10:27:40 AM IST
Parliament monsoon session LIVE updates: Rahul Gandhi rejects Shah’s offer, says ‘he should resign’
Parliament monsoon session LIVE updates: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday rejected Union home minister Amit Shah’s offer for a discussion on the student protests, saying the Opposition was seeking answers rather than a “lecture”. Gandhi called Shah’s proposal a “last-minute” attempt and questioned who ordered the alleged police action against protesting students.