By Dr. Gyan Pathak
Parliament of India has been at a halt for last five days without transacting its business ever since July 20, when the Monsoon Session had begun. Thus, the first week of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament has been washed out due to opposition protest over examination irregularities and brutality unleashed on protesting students, who are now demanding sacking of Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan before any discussion to take place in both the Houses – the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
Right from the morning, much before the parliament resumed the fifth day on July 24, Opposition has given clear signal that the Union Minister of Education be sacked first for discussion to start in both the Houses – Rajya Sabah and Lok Sabha – on examination irregularities and brutalities unleashed on students during their March on Parliament on July 20.
In response to the midnight video message to the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protesters, who have been continuing their protest despite police crackdown on Jantar Mantar since June 6, 2026, Congress President and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge had posted on X, “Before coming to Parliament on Friday , dismiss Dharmendra Pradhan, apologise to the students and take strict action against those who ordered the use of lathis, batons, and Pellet Guns to suppress the students’ voices.” He stated that the opposition will be ready to discuss on education system only after the sacking of Mr Pradhan. In a sharp attack he said when Parliament is in session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be making a statement on the paper leaks issue on the floor of the House and not delivering a “one-sided Mann Ki Baat.”
LoP in Lok Sabah Rahul Gandhi in his early morning attack posted on X wrote, “Mr Modi, our students are demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Don’t insult their intelligence with this pathetic midnight video.” He had also categorically listed the demands – 1. Sack Pradhan, 2. Punish shoes who beat students, and 3. Apologise.
PM Modi had said in the video message on Thursday, June 23 night, “I know that paper leaks are not an ordinary matter. For lakhs of students and their parents, it is extremely painful.” He also promised a stronger legislation, action, and fast track courts.
However, not only the opposition, but also the CJP protesters have sharply criticised PM Modi, who had kept mum on the issue for months, and for the first time in the morning of July 23, had opened his mouth and announced on X, “Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth! … We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. I have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regard.”
As a true satirist, CJP posted on X with photo of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan with a caption “Hi, I am nothing”. And then PM’s statement “Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!” It was a clear dig at PM who have been protecting Dharmendra Pradhan while CJP and the Opposition demanding his resignation.
July 23 was a very important day for the CJP movement for other reasons too. Opposition had protested not only within parliament but also outside and organized a candle march at Gandhi Smriti, after great police hurdles in the way, in support of the students. CJP gave a nationwide protest call on July 23. Social Activist Wangchuk who was on hunger strike had ended it on 26th day, after assurance from the government that there will be no cases against peaceful protestors and government will consider CJP’s demands. Wangchuk has also expressed his concerns about possible violence on nationwise protest. Government also invited CJP for talks on July 24. Secretary Higher Education Vineet Joshi was transferred. The protests had already spread across India, which got support from all sections of society including bar associations and lawyers. Delhi high court has notified fast track court, and had agreed to hear the police crackdown on peaceful student protesters. The ruling BJP on the other hand tried to malign the movement by their statement saying that there was foreign hand in it, is foreign funded, and it was projected as “student movement”.
It is in this backdrop, when the parliament commenced today, the opposition started demanding resignation of Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan. Amidst sloganeering and protests, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha was not able to transact any business and hence both had to be adjourned till noon.
Yesterday, Union Minister of Health J P Nadda had tried to impress the press by saying that paper leaks were also happened in non-BJP ruled states and gave a list of them, including one in opposition ruled state Jammu and Kashmir. However, CM Omar Abdullah corrected him by reminding that that happened in 2022 much before they came to power in 2024, and was happened during their rule through Lieutenant Governor.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh put the sequence of leaks and government’s record in perspective – “The NTA was established by the Modi government specifically to conduct examinations…pre-existing system was dismantled… there have been at least 9 paper leaks during its tenure … instead of seriously implementing the reforms, the Prime Minister kept stalling … another paper leak occurred in NEET-UG 2026 … NTA and the Department of Higher Education shamelessly claimed before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education that there had been no paper leak. For the Prime Minister, his image mattered more than the truth … recommendations not implemented … simply because the committee included opposition members as well.” The NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, he asserted, “is just a symptom; the disease runs much deeper.”
In the Rajya Sabha today, LoP Kharge said if Prime minister “has to say anything, he should say it in Parliament. Only then will we consider his word to be authentic. Let him come and make a statement here. Instead of doing this at 12 am in the night, if he can come and speak here, we will be witnesses to it.” Amidst protest and disruption, Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 PM, minutes after resuming at 12 PM. The House resumed again but it was soon adjourned for the day amid protest and disruption.
Lok Sabha also resumed at 12 noon, where Opposition MPs continued their sloganeering “Education Minister tender your resignation.” Amid the relentless protests, Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day.
Both the Houses will now convene on July 27. The first week of the Monsoon Session was thus totally washed out, with some exception of introduction of some bills amidst disruptions.
LoP in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi later said to reporters, “I want to tell this clearly, there are three demands of the students: The corrupt Education Minister has to go. Second, action on those who thrashed the students, and third, the Prime Minister should apologise to the students,” adding “We are not going to have any discussion before Dharmendra Pradhan is sacked.”
In the meantime, CJP and government’s representatives held talks at the Constitution Club of India on possible solution, but CJP has said during the meet that their demand of resignation of Union Minster of Education Dharmendra Pradhan is non-negotiable. They will meet again on July 25. Protests have been reported from across the country today on CJP’s call for nationwide protest. Disruption in traffic, were also reported from several places, including in Delhi.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who using the word “cockroach” had become the origination of the movement on May 16, has today dismissed the media reports as “reckless” that he had denied urgent hearing on a plea challenging the July 20 police action against students. He said that media falsely reported that he refused to list the matter.
CJP protest continues at Jantar Mantar where they have created a “Wall of Shame” with pictures of police personnel who used brute force on peaceful protesters. (IPA Service)
