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Congress MP KC Venugopal on Monday reiterated the party's demand for Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement in Parliament over the alleged police action against student protesters, saying the Opposition would continue to raise the issue until the minister addresses the House.
"Since day one, we have been asking for a statement from the Union Minister. Since July 21, the Union Home Minister has been absent from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. With two days remaining, where is the Home Minister?" Venugopal told reporters. He said he had written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, citing constitutional provisions, requesting the Home Minister to come to the House and make a statement on the issue. "I have written to the Speaker, citing constitutional provisions, to ask the Home Minister to come to the House and make a statement related to atrocities against the students. Every minister is accountable to Parliament," he said. Earlier in the day, Venugopal said the Congress would not allow Parliament to function unless Amit Shah makes a statement on the alleged police action during the student protest held at Jantar Mantar on July 20. "Our stand is very clear. First, HM Amit Shah should come to Parliament and give a statement on atrocities against the students of Delhi. This is our clear demand. Without having a statement on that issue, we are not going to allow him to do that," he said. Congress MP Manickam Tagore also gave an Adjournment Motion Notice in the Lok Sabha, demanding a statement from the Union Home Minister on the police action during the student protest. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the parliamentary deadlock would continue until the Home Minister addresses the House. "I think the deadlock will continue until the Union Home Minister gives a statement in Parliament," she said. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also targeted the Centre over the issue, alleging that Amit Shah's silence amounted to approval of the alleged violence against protesters. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla made an emotional appeal to floor leaders during the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting, urging political parties to cooperate in restoring the smooth functioning of the House. "Let the voice of the people be heard. Hold Question Hour. Discuss the key bills," Speaker Birla said. "The people's issues cannot be left waiting in the corridors. They must be reflected, debated, and resolved here, on the floor of this House," he added. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Opposition of disrupting parliamentary proceedings and said the government was ready for a detailed discussion on student-related issues. "The offer made by the government is very clear that it is ready to have a full and detailed discussion on students' movement and activities related to it," Rijiju said. He urged Opposition members to allow the Home Minister to make his statement and participate in the discussion. "My only point made to the Opposition is that while the discussion and a reply are being made, the Opposition should not create disturbances to prevent the statement of the Home Minister," he added. The Monsoon Session of Parliament has witnessed repeated disruptions, with Opposition MPs protesting over the alleged police action during the student protest at Jantar Mantar and other issues. Lok Sabha proceedings have witnessed repeated disruptions during the Monsoon Session, with six of the eight Bills passed by the House cleared without a debate on Monday. Meanwhile, four key Bills, including the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, and the National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, were introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday amid uproar by Opposition members. (ANI)
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