PARLIAMENT MONSOON SESSION ENTERS FINAL DAY AMID OPPOSITION PROTESTS
New Delhi, Aug 13, 2026 : The Monsoon Session of Parliament, which has been marked by continuous protests by Opposition members since it began on July 20, enters its final day on Thursday, with several pieces of legislation having been passed amid disruptions and without debate.
The Opposition’s key demands have centred on a statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the July 20 NEET protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and allegations of embezzlement of donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Despite repeated assurances from the government that it is ready to discuss all issues, the Opposition has refused to relent, leading to repeated disruptions of proceedings.
On Wednesday, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised the Opposition for, as he put it, “running away from debate”, saying Parliament could not function if there was no discussion.
“How can Parliament function if there is no discussion?” Rijiju said, accusing Congress MPs of normalising the use of placards, slogans and abusive language in the House.
“I am really frustrated that the Opposition is running away from debates in Parliament,” he added, saying the government was ready for a “full-fledged discussion” and to respond to the issues raised.
Shah also wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday, saying he was ready to answer questions from the Opposition during a debate on the protests by students.
Business in Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha is scheduled to take up private members’ resolutions on citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees and the preservation and restoration of ancient and historic forts in Maharashtra on Thursday.
Proceedings will begin at 11 am with Question Hour, followed by the laying of papers by ministers from various ministries. Among those scheduled to lay papers are Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jayant Chaudhary, Sukanta Majumdar, Shripad Yesso Naik, Nityanand Rai, Shobha Karandlaje, Ajay Tamta and Tokhan Sahu.
Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi is also scheduled to make statements on the implementation of recommendations of the Standing Committee on Industry relating to his ministry, including its reports on Demands for Grants for 2025-26 and action taken on earlier recommendations.
The House will subsequently take up matters under Rule 377.
During Private Members’ Business, scheduled from 3:30 pm to 6 pm, DMK MP Dr Kalanidhi Veeraswamy is scheduled to move a resolution seeking amendments to the Citizenship Act, 1955, to provide relief to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees seeking Indian citizenship.
The resolution proposes that members of the Sri Lankan Tamil community who entered India between July 1, 1983 and March 21, 2022, should not be treated as illegal migrants for the purpose of obtaining citizenship. It also proposes reducing the residence requirement for citizenship by naturalisation from 11 years to five years for eligible members of the community.
The resolution cites more than 92,000 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu, according to Union Home Ministry records from 2021.
Another resolution, to be moved by Dr Shrikant Eknath Shinde, seeks measures for the preservation and restoration of ancient and historic forts in Maharashtra.
It highlights the historical significance of the state’s forts and their association with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Maratha military tradition. It also notes that the 12-fort “Maratha Military Landscapes of India” was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2025.
The resolution points out that Maharashtra has 47 centrally protected forts under the Archaeological Survey of India and 62 state-protected forts, and calls for measures to preserve them as “living heritage” while addressing encroachment and structural deterioration.
Business in Rajya Sabha:
The Rajya Sabha is also scheduled to take up three private members’ resolutions on Thursday, dealing with a dress code for school teachers, cybercrime against women and formal recognition of digital creative enterprises under the MSME framework.
The Private Members’ Business is scheduled from 3:30 pm to 6 pm.
A resolution by Dr Bhim Singh seeks a dress code for school teachers, arguing that it could reinforce professionalism, promote a more inclusive work environment and reduce socio-economic differences. It proposes guidelines covering acceptable attire, including sarees, salwar suits, kurtas, shirts and trousers, with an emphasis on muted or traditional colours.
A resolution by Congress MP Jebi Mather Hisham seeks a comprehensive legal and institutional framework to combat cybercrime against women. It proposes a dedicated law covering offences such as cyberstalking, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, deepfakes, doxing, online blackmail, sextortion and organised online harassment.
The resolution also calls for specialised cyber-forensic laboratories and police units, gender-sensitive training for law enforcement, stronger obligations on online intermediaries to remove abusive content, and compensation and support mechanisms for victims.
The third resolution, to be moved by Rajinder Gupta, seeks formal recognition of Digital Creative Enterprises as a distinct category under the MSME policy framework.
It argues that India’s expanding creator economy—including influencers, journalists, filmmakers, artists, gamers, musicians and digital entrepreneurs—should have access to formal finance and other MSME benefits.
The resolution proposes standardised guidelines for Udyam Registration of creator-led enterprises, sector-specific lending mechanisms that recognise income from advertising, subscriptions, licensing, royalties and brand collaborations, and access to credit guarantees, incubation, export promotion and intellectual-property support through existing MSME institutions.