The demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood echoed through Parliament as Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi led a joint demonstration by the INDIA Bloc and the National Conference, intensifying pressure on the Centre during the Monsoon Session. Opposition MPs gathered outside Parliament, urging the government to fulfil its repeated commitment to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Leaders argued that statehood is essential for strengthening democratic governance, constitutional rights and political representation in the Union Territory. The Opposition also demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement in Parliament over the alleged police action against student protesters at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, linking the issue to wider concerns about democratic rights and public dissent. Rahul sharpened his attack on the government, saying students are suffering because of systemic failures and deserve justice rather than what he described as symbolic gestures. His remarks added to the political heat as multiple Opposition parties sought to corner the Centre on both the Jammu and Kashmir statehood issue and the ongoing education controversy. WATCH

A fresh diplomatic showdown has erupted after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif criticised India's 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370 and repeated allegations over Jammu and Kashmir. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded with a strong statement, calling Pakistan's campaign an "orchestrated spectacle" and saying "the world is not fooled" by Islamabad's narrative. The MEA reiterated that Article 370 is India's internal matter and urged Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism instead of spreading propaganda.