Parliament session highlights: ‘Happy to take more punches,’ says Rahul Gandhi after detention outside PM's residence

Parliament monsoon session highlights: Rahul Gandhi has renewed his support for student protestors, and called for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in a special press conference, has stated that the education system of the nation has been rigged and made unaffordable for students (INC India)

Parliament monsoon session 2026 highlights: Both houses have been adjourned as the NDA and Opposition continue to clash over the demand for a discussion on the NEET leak, police crackdown on students and more....Read More

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• 22 Jul 2026, 06:42:02 PM IST

  Updates to this blog have ended

• 22 Jul 2026, 06:06:55 PM IST

  Parliament session news LIVE: Wangchuk lays condition to end fast

  Parliament session news LIVE: After the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)'s massive protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday said he was ready to end his fast if the Centre provided an assurance that no action would be taken against protesters.

• 22 Jul 2026, 05:10:26 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Gandhi skips mentioning Cockroach Janta Party

  Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Lashing out at the government, Rahul Gandhi defended the students' outrage over paper leaks in a press conference on Wednesday.

  However, there was no mention of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Gandhi's speech.

  The outfit, created as satire, is now the face of a huge student-led protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and is calling for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.

• 22 Jul 2026, 04:55:04 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Gandhi addresses detention, manhandling after dharna at PM residence

  Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Speaking at the press conference, Rahul Gandhi addressed his detention and the assault on him on Tuesday as Congress sat on dharna outside the Prime Minister's residence.

  "I don't care how I was treated, treat me five times worse, the focus has to remain on what was done to the students, education system, paper leaks and the cost these students have been forced to pay," said Gandhi.

• 22 Jul 2026, 04:49:12 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Dharmendra Pradhan must resign, says Gandhi

  Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Congress MP and leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi has reiterated that education minister Dharmendra Pradhan must resign.

• 22 Jul 2026, 04:44:13 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Gandhi calls for consequences over police crackdown on students

  Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Students protesting as India's youth have no future. There must be consequences for what was done some days ago, said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in during a special press conference on Wednesday.

• 22 Jul 2026, 04:35:08 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: 100 per cent in agreement with every single student of India

  Rahul Gandhi has stated that the Congress is 100 per cent in agreement with the students and their demand for accountability from the Centre.

• 22 Jul 2026, 04:33:28 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Education system not only rigged, but unaffordable, says Gandhi

  Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Rahul Gandhi has raised concerns regarding the cost of competitive exams in India and how it impacts students and families.

  During a press briefing, Gandhi alleged that around Rs. 1.32 lakh crore is spent annually by families whose children appear for the NEET exam.

  He compared this to the education budget, which stands at 1.4 lakh crores.

• 22 Jul 2026, 04:30:02 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Congress alleges 152 paper leaks took place in past decade

  Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: In a special press conference, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has alleged that around 152 paper leaks took place in past decade, impacting around 7.5 crore students.

• 22 Jul 2026, 04:26:51 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Gandhi begins special press conference on protests

• 22 Jul 2026, 04:04:41 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Rahul Gandhi to hold press conference shortly

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Congress MP and Lok Sabha leader of opposition, Rahul Gandhi, is set to hold a press conference shortly.

  Gandhi's presser comes after the Congress leader staged a sit-in outside PM Modi's residence at 7LKM.

• 22 Jul 2026, 03:24:56 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Why was Kalyan Banerjee suspended from Lok Sabha?

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee was reportedly accused of indecent behaviour and use of intemperate language against women MPs. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Wednesday moved a motion in the Lok Sabha seeking his suspension and the motion was subsequently adopted by the House. Read full story here.

• 22 Jul 2026, 03:06:58 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for the day after Congress president and RS leader of opposotion Mallikarjun Kharge called for an urgent discussion on the police crackdown on student protests in the national capital.

• 22 Jul 2026, 03:04:38 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Kiren Rijiju targets Gandhi

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Kiren Rijiju once again targeted Rahul Gandhi and the Congress and stated that the opposition party keeps changing its “demands” for a discussion.

  Rijiju added that the change in demands is all part of an attempt to derail the parliament proceedings.

• 22 Jul 2026, 03:02:49 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Rajya Sabha resumes, DMK raises student protest issue

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Rajya Sabha has resumed its proceedings. Taking the floor, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva raised the issue of the ongoing student protests and called for a discussion in the house.

• 22 Jul 2026, 03:00:42 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Rajnath Singh accuses opposition of using students as ‘political tools’

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Defence minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh has accused the opposition of using students as ‘political tools’.

  “I believe the opposition is making an inappropriate attempt to solve the issues on the streets rather than in Parliament. The place to discuss the issues of democracy is the Parliament House, where the opposition is completely free to voice its opinion,” he told news agency ANI.

  He concluded by urging the Opposition to allow the House to function. "If the opposition is serious, it should not create hurdles in the smooth functioning of the ongoing Monsoon session and discuss whatever issues it wants to discuss in Parliament and draw the attention of the House and the government."

• 22 Jul 2026, 02:53:47 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: BJP leaders target Rahul Gandhi over dharna outside PM's residence

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Several BJP and NDA leaders have targeted Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi for his dharna outside the Prime Minister's residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg (formerly known as Race Course Road).

  “Rahul Gandhi said he wanted a discussion today, so yesterday our senior minister himself went there and told Rahul Gandhi to have a discussion... When the discussion happens, a conclusion will emerge. The truth will be revealed, and then we can talk. You are talking about resignation first, then discussion. What is this?... Going and sitting outside the residence of the Prime Minister does not suit the LoP,” said BJP MP Ashok Mittal.

  Defence minister Rajnath Singh, education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and many others also targeted the Congess MP for his demonstration and accused him of “taking advantage of the students.”

• 22 Jul 2026, 02:24:48 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: TMC Kalyan Banerjee suspended from Lok Sabha

  Parliament monsoon sessison 2026 LIVE: TMC's Kalyan Banerjee has been suspended from the Lok Sabha for the monsoon session for using 'unparliamentary language' against a woman MP

• 22 Jul 2026, 02:13:38 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Rajya Sabha adjourned till 3pm

  Parliament monoon sesion 2026 LIVE: The Rajya Sabha has also been adjourned, however, proceedings will resume at 3pm

• 22 Jul 2026, 02:12:09 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Lok Sabha adjourned for the day

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Amid the oppositions demand for a discussion on the NEET paper leak and other issues, the Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day.

• 22 Jul 2026, 02:09:53 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: NEET paper leak and other issues will be discussed says Rijiju.

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: All important issues, including NEET paper leak, will be discussed, says Kiren Rijiju in Rajya Sabha.

• 22 Jul 2026, 02:04:26 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Both houses resume proceedings amid ruckus

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha have resumed their proceedings amid ruckus from the opposition as they demand a discussion on the NEET leak and police crackdown on protestors in the national capital.

• 22 Jul 2026, 01:54:07 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: NCPI MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar complains against Kalyan Banerjee to Speaker

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: NCPI MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar on Wednesday alleged that Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee verbally abused NCPI members and Union minister Bhupender Yadav during proceedings in Parliament. Calling it "unprecedented behaviour" and alleging that Banerjee acted in a "misogynistic manner", Dastidar said a complaint had been submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla over the incident.

• 22 Jul 2026, 01:39:37 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Opposition insists NEET discussion be held under adjournment motion

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: The Opposition on Wednesday remained firm that any discussion on the NEET paper leak and students' issues should be held under an adjournment motion.

• 22 Jul 2026, 01:12:41 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: BJP not allowing Parliament to function, says Congress' Randeep Surjewala

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Wednesday accused the BJP-led Centre of preventing Parliament from functioning and criticised its handling of student protests. Referring to the CJP and Youth Congress protests, he said, “The BJP government's arrogance has reached such a level that it is not even allowing Parliament to function.”

  Taking a swipe at the government's naming of public spaces, Surjewala added, "They give grand names such as 'Lok Kalyan Marg', 'Kartavya Path' and 'Seva Teerth'. The youth, for whom all these institutions exist, are being beaten on the streets." (PTI)

• 22 Jul 2026, 01:10:04 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Govt doesn't want to hear anything, says SP MP

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav on Wednesday accused the Centre of avoiding discussion in Parliament, alleging that the government "doesn't want to hear anything".

  Referring to repeated disruptions in the House, he said, "The House gets adjourned at 11:01 hours, 12:01 hours and 14:01 hours." Yadav also said the Samajwadi Party had extended full support to the protest led by Rahul Gandhi and that its MPs were detained during the demonstration.

• 22 Jul 2026, 01:08:15 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Akhilesh Yadav asks what 'pressure' is preventing Pradhan's removal

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Speaking outside Parliament on Wednesday, Samajwadi Party chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav questioned the Centre's refusal to remove the Union education minister, alleging that the government was "acting scared". "We must think why the government is not able to remove its minister. What kind of pressure is there on the govt? Does the minister hold secrets of the government because of which it is not able to remove him? The govt is acting scared," Yadav said. (ANI)

• 22 Jul 2026, 01:00:53 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Dharmendra Pradhan meets Om Birla as Centre agrees to dicuss NEET paper leaks

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Dharmendra Pradhan met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday after the government agreed to hold a discussion on the NEET paper leak issue in the Lok Sabha.

  According to PTI, the meeting took place soon after the Centre informed the House that it was willing to hold a detailed debate on the alleged examination irregularities. The government has also asked Birla to convene an all-party meeting to decide the rule, date and duration of the discussion.

  When the House reassembled at noon, Speaker Birla asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to make a statement, but Congress leader KC Venugopal intervened to reiterate the Opposition's demand for Pradhan's resignation. Besides seeking a debate, the Opposition has been pressing for the education minister to step down over his handling of the controversy.

• 22 Jul 2026, 12:19:22 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Submit notice, discussion will be allowed after Question Hour, says Om Birla

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Speaker Om Birla said:

  "I am ready to allow a discussion on the issues for which you have submitted notices after Question Hour."

  "You will be given adequate time, and the discussion can continue for as long as you wish."

  "However, discussions can only take place after Question Hour."

  "If you want a discussion in the House, submit a notice."

  "I am prepared to permit that discussion after Question Hour."

• 22 Jul 2026, 12:13:08 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned on Wednesday amid the ongoing Monsoon Session. Both Houses will now reconvene at 2 pm.

• 22 Jul 2026, 12:08:29 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Priyanka Gandhi says Opposition not being allowed to speak in Parliament

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday accused the Centre of stifling debate in Parliament, alleging that the Opposition was not being allowed to raise issues concerning students. Speaking during a protest outside Parliament, she said, "There is nothing undemocratic" about peaceful protests, but "what is happening in Parliament and on the streets is undemocratic." Claiming that the Opposition was being prevented from speaking, she said, "The Leader of Opposition is not allowed to speak, and neither are other opposition leaders... Democracy is finished." Reiterating support for protesting students, Priyanka Gandhi said they were "only asking for their rights" and described their concerns as "a genuine issue". She also criticised the government's priorities, saying, "The entire education budget... is ₹1.4 lakh crore. But you are writing off loans worth ₹16 lakh crore for Adani ji and Ambani ji."

• 22 Jul 2026, 12:04:07 PM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: KC Venugopal asks for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Congress leader KC Venugopal on Wednesday told the Lok Sabha, "The education minister should resign."

• 22 Jul 2026, 11:55:09 AM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: Govt tells Opposition it is ready for paper leak discussion

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: The government on Wednesday told the Opposition that it was ready to hold a discussion on the paper leak issue at 12 noon, provided the House functioned in an orderly manner.

• 22 Jul 2026, 11:35:47 AM IST

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: BJP's Nishikant Dubey accuses Congress of 'colluding with traitors'

  Parliament monsoon session 2026 LIVE: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Congress over its protest near Lok Kalyan Marg, alleging that the party was "colluding with traitors" and attempting to "break the nation". Referring to the protest at Jantar Mantar, Dubey claimed that "the manner in which swords were brandished and Islamic countries are supporting this" raised serious concerns.

  He also called for a government probe into Rahul Gandhi's alleged meetings with foreign officials and his purported links with the Soros Foundation. "Rahul Gandhi wants to come to power by hook or by crook by breaking the nation. Soros Foundation and Islamic countries are funding him," Dubey alleged, while also accusing the Congress of displaying an "attack on media" mindset.