30 July,2026 11:49 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
The protest was held just hours before the Rajya Sabha was scheduled to take up the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. Pic/ X
Opposition MPs on Thursday staged a demonstration at Makar Dwar in the Parliament complex, protesting the alleged police crackdown on student protesters and the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.
Leaders from several INDIA bloc parties assembled outside Parliament around 10.30 am, carrying placards and raising slogans against the Centre.
They demanded accountability over the alleged use of force against students during the July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar and sought a thorough probe into the alleged financial irregularities involving Ram Temple donations, reported ANI.
The protest was held just hours before the Rajya Sabha was scheduled to take up the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, for discussion and passage.
Earlier in the day, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain said the Opposition would hold a meeting later to decide its future course of action.
"The entire Opposition will hold a protest here in front of Makar Dwar, and then we will decide our future course of action in today's meeting," Hussain told ANI.
Hussain alleged that the government had failed to honour assurances reportedly given to student protesters after the July 20 demonstration.
"These protests are happening every day. The way they treated the students, and afterwards, when discussions were held between the government and the protesting students, some promises were made that no arrests would be made, no FIRs would be filed, and the government would not pursue anyone," he said.
He added that the Opposition had placed three demands before the government: the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a statement in Parliament on the alleged police action, and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"There were three demands. One, Pradhan should resign. Second, the government should come to the House and make a statement regarding the alleged police atrocities, which it has not done. Third, the Prime Minister should apologise. Two of these demands are still pending," Hussain said.
Questioning the absence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah from the debate, Hussain said the Delhi Police functions under the Union Home Ministry and, therefore, the Home Minister should answer questions regarding the alleged police action.
"Under whom does the Delhi Police function? Under whose supervision does it work? From whom does it take directions? The ministry under Amit Shah ji oversees the Delhi Police. Do those directions come from the Home Minister or the Railway Minister?" he asked, the news agency reported.
Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav reiterated his party's demand for accountability in the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement case.
"This concerns the faith of crores of people. The Samajwadi Party argues that you came to power and fought elections in the name of Lord Ram, yet you allowed donations and offerings made to him to be stolen. This is a serious issue. It will not simply go away," Yadav told ANI.
Commenting on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Yadav questioned whether stricter laws alone could prevent paper leaks.
"I have said before that legislation alone cannot stop such incidents. Unless the entire process, from setting the question papers and printing them to transporting them, is handled by honest people, paper leaks cannot be prevented," he said.
Thursday's protest comes a day after Samajwadi Party MPs, led by party chief Akhilesh Yadav, demonstrated at Makar Dwar over the alleged theft and misappropriation of offerings made to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.
The Rajya Sabha is scheduled to begin discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, at 2 pm.
(With ANI inputs)
