Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday offered the Opposition to hold an in-depth discussion in Parliament on the student protests which ensued at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on July 20 and the subsequent action taken by police, but imposed a deadline for the Opposition to submit a written notice. 

However, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, rejected the proposal, saying the Opposition was ‘not interested’ in Shah’s lecture and instead demanded answers over the alleged use of force against protestors. 

Shah sets 2 PM deadline for Opposition

Addressing the media-persons in the Parliament House complex, Minister Shah said the government was ready to discuss all issues, including the student protests, provided the Opposition did not disrupt the Parliamentary proceedings. 

Furthermore, the Home Minister asked the Opposition to submit a written notice to the speaker of Lok Sabha, Om Birla, by 2 pm on Wednesday seeking a discussion on the protests. He went on to say that if the Opposition submitted the notice by the deadline, a discussion could begin at 3 pm on Wednesday and continue until 3 pm the next day. The offer came against the backdrop of back-to-back disruptions in Parliament over the protests and the alleged police crackdown which was launched against the demonstrators. 

Rahul Gandhi seeks answers on police action

Rahul Gandhi hit back at Minister Shah, saying the Opposition was not interested in listening to a ‘lecture’ and wanted the former to answer specific questions about the police action against the protestors. Speaking to the media outside Parliament, the Lok Sabha LoP questioned who had ordered the alleged firing and lathicharge against the students and demanded accountability from Minister Shah. 

Furthermore, he alleged that Minister Shah had constantly been absent from Parliament for nearly 20 days and claimed that the Home Minister lacked the courage to face the House. 

Standoff between Centre, Opposition continues over protests

Notably, the Monsoon Session, which began on July 20, 2026, has repeatedly seen disruptions amid protests by the Opposition over several issues, including student protests linked to the NEET UG 2026 paper leak and allegations concerning the theft of Ram temple donations. 

On Monday, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had said the government was prepared for a full-fledged discussion in the lower house on the student protests and the police action that followed. 

Gandhi, however, maintained that the issue was not whether Minister Shah could deliver a speech on ‘general issues,’ but whether he would clarify who gave nod to the alleged firing on the students. Gandhi remarked, “He is the Home Minister; pellet guns were fired,” calling for demands that Minister Shah clarify whether he had ordered the firing.

Meanwhile, LS speaker Om Birla pleaded with the protesting Opposition members to allow the Parliament to function. He said staging protests and raising slogans inside the House was inappropriate and could tarnish the Parliament’s image.