NEW DELHI, Aug 13: Ruling NDA and Opposition INDIA bloc MPs faced off outside Parliament on Thursday as rival demonstrations at Makar Dwar turned into a noisy exchange of slogans over police action against protesting students in Jharkhand and allegations surrounding donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Security personnel formed a cordon between the two groups as lawmakers from both sides raised counter-slogans and displayed placards.
The NDA MPs targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of avoiding a debate on student protests and seeking answers from him over the issue.
The Opposition, meanwhile, demanded accountability from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged police excesses during the July 20 student protests linked to the NEET paper leak issue.
Before the confrontation, the two blocs had conducted separate demonstrations at the Makar Dwar.
NDA MPs gathered on the Parliament steps and raised slogans against Gandhi, alleging that he was unwilling to participate in a discussion on student protests.
The INDIA bloc MPs, largely comprising members of the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress, held placards and stood behind a banner questioning the alleged misuse of donations made to the Ram temple.
They raised slogans including “Amit Shah maafi maango” and demanded answers from the government over the handling of student demonstrations.
The Opposition has been pressing for Shah to address the House and respond to allegations of police action against students during their Parliament march over the examination controversy.
The government has offered a debate followed by a response from the Home Minister, but the move has failed to break the deadlock.
The Congress has maintained that any response from Shah must specifically clarify who authorised the use of pellet guns against protesting students.
The party has also insisted that a discussion on the alleged diversion or theft of Ram temple donations remains a non-negotiable demand.
The latest confrontation reflects the continuing political standoff between the government and Opposition, with both sides using protests outside Parliament to press their respective demands.
