Kharge Targets Government Over CJP Protest; Rajya Sabha Session Disrupted

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice within the first hour of the Monsoon Session on Monday after Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. Kharge accused the government of suppressing the demonstration, while the House witnessed repeated disruptions amid sloganeering. Kharge raised concerns over the reported police action against CJP supporters who had gathered at Jantar Mantar ahead of their planned march towards Parliament.

He said the protest was linked to demands related to competitive examination paper leaks and called the issue a matter concerning the future of lakhs of students. "I am talking about the future of lakhs of students. For that, thousands of children have come to Jantar Mantar. There has been a baton charge. The government is trying to hurt them. It is trying to suppress them," Kharge said during the proceedings. Following the Opposition leader's remarks, several members raised slogans, disrupting the functioning of the House.

Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan first adjourned proceedings until noon as the disruption continued. The House was later adjourned again at noon and scheduled to resume at 12:30 pm. The protests outside Parliament were linked to the CJP's planned "Chalo Sansad" march, during which thousands of supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar. The organisation was demanding action over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and had also sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

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According to reports, Delhi Police denied permission for the march towards Parliament and imposed restrictions in several parts of New Delhi. Police personnel were deployed in large numbers to manage the gathering and prevent protesters from entering restricted areas. Police officials said measures were taken to maintain law and order, while protesters alleged that authorities used excessive force during attempts to control the crowd. The claims and counterclaims have become a major political issue during the opening day of the Parliament session.

The disruption comes as the Monsoon Session begins with expectations of heated debates on several political and policy issues. The Opposition has indicated that it plans to raise matters concerning governance, public accountability and issues affecting students and young people. The government has maintained that parliamentary proceedings should focus on constructive discussions and legislative work. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the media before the session, appealed to lawmakers to prioritise debate based on facts and logic.

The CJP protest and the subsequent political reactions added to the tension surrounding the first day of the session. With several contentious issues expected to come up in Parliament, further disruptions are likely if disagreements between the government and Opposition continue. The Rajya Sabha proceedings are expected to resume amid continued political exchanges over the protest, with both sides defending their positions on the handling of demonstrations and the functioning of Parliament.

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