NEW DELHI, Aug 10: Opposition MPs, including Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, staged a protest in the Parliament complex on Monday over allegations concerning donations collected for the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the alleged use of force against student protesters.
The demonstrators demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah address Parliament and respond to allegations of police excesses during a student protest held on July 20 over the paper leak issue.
Carrying placards and raising slogans against the government, the MPs gathered near Makar Dwar. Some of the slogans targeted the BJP and called for answers from the Home Minister.
The protesters also placed a donation box at the site as a symbolic representation of the allegations surrounding contributions made for the Ram temple. Opposition members stood around it while raising slogans against the government.
Most of the protesting MPs belonged to the Congress and Samajwadi Party. They stood behind a large banner demanding an explanation from Shah over the alleged police action against students.
INDIA bloc prepares joint attack on government
The INDIA bloc has decided to raise both issues during the ongoing Monsoon Session, seeking answers from the government over the alleged misuse of force against students and questions surrounding temple donations.
Earlier on Monday, floor leaders of INDIA bloc parties met in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge inside the Parliament complex.
The meeting focused on coordinating the opposition’s strategy and pressing the government on the two issues.
The Opposition has accused the government of avoiding a discussion on the alleged incidents and has demanded accountability from those responsible.
Parliament proceedings remain disrupted
Proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have continued amid repeated disruptions as the Opposition presses its demands.
While legislative business has been taken up, frequent protests and slogans have affected the smooth functioning of the Houses.
The Opposition is expected to continue raising the issues during the remaining proceedings of the Monsoon Session, keeping pressure on the government to respond to its allegations.
