The Rajya Sabha suffered numerous disruptions on the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon session on Monday, resulting in two adjournments within the first few hours, after the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Union Government of suppressing the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in New Delhi over alleged competitive exam paper leaks.

Kharge raised the issue in the Upper House and slammed the government’s handling of the demonstration at Jantar Mantar, where thousands of CJP supporters had gathered to demand accountability for alleged irregularities in competitive exams and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. 

He said, “I am talking about the future of lakhs of students. For that, thousands of children have arrived at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. There has been a baton charge. The government is trying to hurt them. It is trying to suppress them.” His statements drew a loud sloganeering by Opposition members.

House adjourned twice amid continuous protests

As Opposition members continued raising slogans, Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan adjourned the House until noon in a bid to restore order. However, the proceedings remained disrupted when the House reconvened, triggering another adjournment until 12:30 pm as fresh chaos ensued. 

The repeated interruptions marked a turbulent beginning to the Monsoon Session, with the Opposition signalling its intent to aggressively raise several contentious issues before the ruling government. 

CJP protest emerges as political flashpoint

The parliamentary uproar came hours after a large-scale demonstration was staged by the CJP in Delhi. Thousands of CJP supporters chipped in ahead of the party’s proposed ‘Chalo Sansad’ march, demanding Minister Pradhan’s resignation and action over alleged paper leaks in pan-India competitive examinations. 

Notably, Delhi Police on Sunday had denied permission for the march and had also imposed prohibitory orders across large parts of the city. As protestors attempted to march towards the Parliament, the cops used batons to disperse sections of the crowd, escalating tensions and triggering sharp criticism from Opposition parties.

Opposition planning to raise other issues too

Besides the CJP protest, Opposition parties are expected to press for discussions on a range of issues during the session, including the alleged theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple, the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur and concerns raised by farmers. 

The government, meanwhile, pleaded with all political parties to ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament, cautioning that repeated disruptions could result in important legislation being passed without detailed debate. 

Govt lists 8 bills for Monsoon session

The Parliament’s Monsoon Session shall continue until August 13, 2026, with the Centre listing 8 bills for introduction or consideration. Among the proposed legislations are amendments to the law regulating foreign contributions, a Bill aimed at restructuring the country’s higher education regulatory framework, and legislation aimed at extending statutory protection to the national song ‘Vande Mataram.’