Parliament Monsoon Session Highlights: Anti-paper leak bill passed in Lok Sabha

Both Houses of Parliament now adjourned, to meet tomorrow.

The Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day, to reconvene tomorrow at 11 am.

Anti-paper leak bill passed in Lok Sabha amid huge uproar over LoP Rahul Gandhi blaming Amit Shah for firing on students.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh questioned Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's claims on paper leaks during the Lok Sabha debate, alleging that the figures she cited were inaccurate and unverified. He said Gandhi claimed there had been 152 paper leaks that affected "750 crore children", but asked where the numbers had come from and said there was no evidence or authentication to support them.

Singh said he had verified the figures from the written script Gandhi had submitted in Parliament and argued that the claim did not stand scrutiny. "I don't know where this figure came from. Either it is fabricated, or it is mischievous, or it reflects ignorance," he said. Singh also disputed Gandhi's assertion that no action had been taken since the anti-paper leak law came into force in 2024, saying 52 FIRs had been registered under its provisions over the past two years, including 29 under the Prevention of Unfair Means Act and 23 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Union Minister Jitendra Singh hit back at LoP Rahul Gandhi over his July 21 protest outside the Prime Minister's residence, accusing the Leader of the Opposition of staging a political spectacle driven by personal ambition rather than public interest. Responding to Gandhi's remarks in the Lok Sabha, Singh said the Congress leader had gone and sat outside the Prime Minister's residence at 7 am in the hope of drawing attention, suggesting it reflected his long-standing desire to occupy 7, Lok Kalyan Marg as Prime Minister.

The Union minister claimed Gandhi initially hesitated to associate himself with the protest but joined only after realising it was gathering momentum, calling it a case of "FOMO" (Fear of Missing Out). Singh further alleged that Gandhi refused to leave despite being politely advised against the demonstration, forcing the police to remove him. He said the episode exposed Gandhi's "suppressed ambition" to live at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg and become the country's leader.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the word “idiot”, regardless of whom it was directed at, was not appropriate for use in Parliament. Questioning Rahul Gandhi’s understanding of the issue, Singh said no minister orders police to open fire and that such orders are issued by a magistrate, SDM or DM.

He also clarified that no shots were fired during the Delhi protests.

Speaking outside Parliament, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s absence from the House after his allegations over the police action against student protesters triggered an uproar.

Gandhi said that if Shah had neither done anything nor issued any order, he should come to Parliament and clarify that. He also asserted his right to raise the issue in the House.

After meeting Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in Parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju held another round of discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Union Minister Piyush Goyal was also present at the meeting.

The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 3 pm amid continued disruptions. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju are meeting Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Union Minister Piyush Goyal is also present.

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was “scared” to face the House, claiming that he had seen Shah’s convoy and the minister inside his car.

Gandhi further alleged that Shah had authorised the firing on student protesters and ordered that students be shot, accusing him of putting “pellets into the blood” of protesting students.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was merely a “symbol” and alleged that the RSS was the “real enemy” preventing students from thinking independently.

Gandhi accused the RSS of wanting students to become “andh-bhakts” and said the protests reflected a reaction from the “soul of India” against such an idea.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla rebuked Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over allegations made during his speech, stressing that claims made in the House must be supported by facts, evidence or established findings.

Birla said members must follow parliamentary rules and procedures when making allegations against anyone. He said prior notice must be given before levelling an allegation and that no person can be accused without an inquiry or formal finding.

The Speaker urged Gandhi to make allegations in the House only on the basis of complete facts, established conclusions or an official report. He also reminded Gandhi that the debate on the anti-paper leak Bill had nothing to do with the Home Ministry.

• Speaker objects to Rahul’s remarks: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said Rahul Gandhi’s remarks could not be taken on record unless he had a factual basis for his claims.
• Birla asks Rahul to stick to facts: Birla reminded Gandhi that, as Leader of the Opposition, he was expected to speak on facts and focus on the Bill.
• Speaker's warning: Birla said that if Gandhi did not wish to continue his speech, he would call the next speaker to participate in the debate.
• Opposition backs Rahul: Opposition MPs raised slogans of “Rahul ji ko bolne do”, demanding that Gandhi be allowed to continue speaking.
• Treasury benches protest: Ruling party members continued protesting and sloganeering during Gandhi’s speech.
• House adjourned: Amid the sustained protests and disruptions, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2:30 pm.

Rahul Gandhi said the protesting students had refused to become “andhbhakts” and praised them for standing up to the BJP and RSS despite the fear faced by their parents.

He said the students had shown courage by confronting what he described as attempts to threaten their careers and futures. Gandhi said they questioned why different religions were being targeted and why people were being prevented from loving whom they chose.

Taking a swipe at Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s absence from the House, Gandhi said he was “very happy” to see that the “so-called Home Minister” did not have the courage to come and sit in the Lok Sabha.

Rahul Gandhi then alleged that the Home Minister had ordered the police to open fire. In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju challenged him to produce the order, saying, “Show us the order.”

Rahul Gandhi alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was “afraid” to face him in the Lok Sabha, pointing out that Shah was absent from the House.

Gandhi further alleged that Shah had ordered firing on protesters and accused him of “putting pellets in their blood”. The remarks drew strong opposition from the Treasury benches, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju questioning the basis and evidence for Gandhi’s allegations against the Home Minister.

Rahul Gandhi said the Education Ministry was never actually run by former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, but by the RSS. He alleged that RSS ideologues were appointed as vice-chancellors across several central universities.

Gandhi further alleged that the RSS wanted to turn students into “andhbhakts” and claimed that this was what the protesting students were fighting against.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh intervened, urging the Treasury benches to allow Rahul Gandhi to continue speaking and asking the Speaker to expunge the “idiot” remark from the House records. The Speaker accepted the request and expunged the remark.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju objected to the use of “unparliamentary words” by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi during his speech in the Lok Sabha.

Rahul Gandhi defended his use of the word “idiot” amid an uproar in the Lok Sabha, saying it was unparliamentary only when used against another member of Parliament. He maintained that he had not directed the word at anyone.

“If you want the BJP to speak, then I will shut my mouth and sit down,” Gandhi told the Lok Sabha speaker.