Rijiju says govt ready for debate on students’ stir; oppn seeks discussion on Ram temple donation too

11/08/2026

NEW DELHI, Aug 10: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced on Monday that the government is ready for a full-fledged discussion in Lok Sabha on the student protests and police action across the country and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reply to the debate, provided the opposition promises not to disrupt and listens peacefully.
Rijiju's announcement came shortly after a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Lok Sabha where the agenda of the House for the next three days was discussed with members from different political parties.
There has been a persistent demand from the opposition for a statement from the home minister on the police action against students protesting in the city last month. Shah has not been seen in the House in the ongoing Monsoon session even though he has been regularly coming to Parliament House complex.
Rijiju also said that since the government is ready for the debate on the student protests in different parts of the country, the opposition can't create any turmoil and resort to any sloganeering during the discussion in the House as well as reply to the debate.
"We have made it clear to the BAC of the Lok Sabha that the government is ready for a full-fledged discussion on the student and youth agitations that have been going on in different parts of the country as well as police action. The home minister will give point-by-point reply to the debate on behalf of the government," he told reporters after the meeting of the BAC held in Parliament House complex.
However, Rijiju said the opposition has to assure that they will take part in the debate peacefully and will not disrupt the proceedings, listen to the reply of the home minister and will not run away after creating turmoil and sloganeering by citing some excuses.
"We have given our offer and the opposition now has to give the assurance that it will peacefully listen to reply of the home minister. Sloganeering will not be acceptable. If they want debate, there has to be proper decorum. The government never runs away from any issue or any debate, nor will it run away in future," he said.
Rijiju said the country has full right to know the details of the student agitation and asked the Congress and Samajwadi Party to "sort out their differences".
The minister made a similar statement in the Lower House too.
"The Congress party and Rahul Gandhi have been demanding a statement from Homer Minister Amit Shah from day one. The government is ready to hold a discussion on the issue of students and give a detailed response. I request the Congress party not to walk out during his statement. It should not be scared," he said in the House.
Asked by the media whether the issue of alleged theft of donation at the Ram temple in Ayodhya will also be discussed in Parliament, he said the Uttar Pradesh government's probe through an SIT and several other steps at the state government level have been going on.
"I don't want to make any comment on that. I have come here to make clear the government stand that it is ready for a debate on the student agitation," he said.
Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said the party has been demanding discussion on the use of pellet guns by the police on the students during the July 20 protests over the NEET paper leak and the alleged donation theft at the Ram temple.
"Will the home minister speak on the theft of donation at Ram temple. So far, nothing has come from the government on this. It was a statement (from Rijiju) to mislead the opposition. Government is running away from its responsibility," Gogoi said.
The Monsoon session, which started on July 20, has seen repeated adjournments and virtually no business except the debate on the anti-paper leaks bill -- The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 -- which was passed by Parliament.
Three more bills were passed in the two Houses with little or no debate and two other bills were passed by the Lok Sabha, amid unrelenting protests by the opposition.
The opposition parties initially protested over the NEET paper leak and alleged theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram temple. They later pressed for a discussion on police action against students protesting over the NEET paper leak and also demanded the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the home minister and their statements.
The student protests was led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar here, which started on June 20 and culminated after 36 days on July 25 following resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as education minister and acceptance of other demands by the government.
The discontent spilt over into a massive march to Parliament on July 20, which witnessed a strong police response involving lathicharge and the use of tear gas shells.
The BJP has, however, questioned the opposition's alleged silence over the protests by job aspirants in Jharkhand where the Congress is also a partner in the JMM-led coalition government.
In Ranchi, the students have been agitating demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
They are also seeking cancellation of several recruitment exams, including the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination, and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities.
On Monday, police used water cannons, lobbed tear gas shells, and lathi-charged job aspirants as they breached barricades and attempted to reach the state assembly, protesting the alleged recruitment exam irregularities.

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