Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Kiren Rijiju, Arjun Ram Meghwal, JP Nadda, and MoS L Murugan during an all-party meeting convened by the government ahead of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, in New Delhi
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Opposition parties staged a symbolic walk-out on the issue of inviting the group of rebel TMC MPs to the all-party meeting convened ahead of the Monsoon session. However, the opposition later returned to participate in the meeting. While the government defended the invitation extended to the group who joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), Opposition leaders criticised the move saying the Lok Sabha Speaker is yet to approve any merger and the disqualification petitions filed by TMC against rebel MPs is still pending.
Congress said it will raise issues related to NEET paper leak, education reforms, employment, farmers, as well as Ram temple donation ‘theft’, ethanol, Manipur during the upcoming Monsoon session, starting Monday. Samajwadi Party said it would also raise activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike among other issues.
“We raised these issues and demanded a discussion on them in Parliament. The most important being the theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The government should express its sensitivity to it. We are also seeing protests by students, but none from the government is taking moral responsibility,” said Gaurav Gogoi, deputy leader of Congress in Lok Sabha. Seeking more sensitivity, he said issues affecting common people when raised by Opposition are getting ignored by the government.
“Be it ethanol, students’ issues, ‘Sadan ki Chori’ (defection/split in TMC, Shiv Sena), Manipur issue, temple theft… If the government runs away from these issues, then it will suffer,” he said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the people of the country want smooth functioning of Parliament and “not any turmoil” in the House, and urged all parties to give their positive support to bills. “By protesting, no one is going to benefit politically. That is why I requested members of all political parties to take part in the proceedings wholeheartedly,” he said.
eight bills
Rijiju said the government has already listed eight bills for the Monsoon Session, scheduled to continue till August 13, and if there is additional business, it will follow necessary procedures. The minister also said the government has noted the suggestions of the Opposition.
Speaking to media after the all-party meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Rijiju also said NCPI requested recognition from the Lok Sabha Speaker and can’t be ignored. It is the government’s duty to invite everyone, he added.
Observers said that the first few days may not see any business as Opposition seems not in a mood to allow discussion on key legislative business listed by the government and Ram temple issue may dominate the discussion.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge shared a letter dated July 18 jointly written by him and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ayodhya Ram temple. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also urged the prime minister to break his silence on the issue.
The joint letter if Kharge and Gandhi said lakhs of devotees who donated their hard-earned money with faith are feeling “betrayed by the theft” and the prime minister’s silence on the issue was unacceptable.
“Our joint letter to PM Modi demanding an independent and comprehensive investigation into the financial affairs of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Lakhs of devotees who donated their hard-earned money with faith, devotion and trust are feeling betrayed by the theft,” Kharge said.
After the alleged theft surfaced, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted an SIT and later an FIR was also filed. So far, eight people have been arrested while two key functionaries of the Trust are said to have ‘resigned’ and the Trust has sought applications to appoint a CEO for the first time since its formation.
“It is your duty to ensure accountability and restitution. We urge you to immediately order an independent and comprehensive investigation into the financial affairs of the Trust, including the handling of all offerings, including cash, gold, silver,” the letter said.
Meanwhile, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien has urged Modi through a letter to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the government’s proposed legislation on delimitation and amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), terming those as ‘draconian’.
At the all-party meeting, DMK leader Tiruchi Siva urged the government to come out with a clear formula on the Constitution amendment bill for providing 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and State assemblies, asserting that the quota should be given on the current strength of the Lower House. “The DMK is in favour of the Women’s Reservation Bill on the current strength in the Lok Sabha, but we want more clarity on the delimitation issue,” Siva said adding if it affects the southern states, it should be put in abeyance for 25 years.
Published on July 19, 2026
