Amid continued disruption of the ongoing Monsoon Session, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday (August 12, 2026) said he is ready to answer any question in Parliament and that the government is willing to take up a detailed discussion on “all aspects of the students’ protests related to the NEET issue” from 3 p.m. on Wednesday to 3 p.m. on Thursday (August 13, 2026).
Mr. Shah, speaking to reporters outside the Parliament complex, alleged that the Opposition does not want the discussion to take place even after the government repeatedly stating its willingness. “Now, let the people decide who is actually running away"
“If Opposition gives it in writing to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla by 2 p.m. today, we can start a discussion at 3 p.m. today until 3 p.m. tomorrow. If the discussion starts, I will give a reply tomorrow at 3 p.m.,” the Home Minister added.
Parliament Monsoon Session Day 18 - key highlights
His remarks came as both Houses witnessed continued Opposition protests demanding the Home Minister’s statement on the floor of the House over the police action on the recent Cockroach Janta Party-led student protests in the national capital. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 2 p.m. shortly after beginning proceedings on Wednesday (August 12, 2026).
Mr. Shah stated that he has been coming to the Parliament and sitting in his chamber through the ongoing Monsoon Session. “Words like ‘laapata’, ‘bhaag gaye’ [‘missing’ and ‘fled'] are the kind of language increasingly being heard in India’s public and parliamentary life. Ever since the Parliament session began, I have been coming to Parliament continuously and sitting in my chamber. Since the opposition is not letting Parliament function in both houses, what can anyone do by going there?”
“I will sit, note down everything myself, and answer so that everything becomes clear to the people of the country. Now the Opposition has to decide whether they want a discussion or to create a ruckus,” he added.
Hitting back at Mr. Shah statement, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi declined the offer of a debate saying that they are “not interested” in the Home Minister’s “imagination or lecture”.
“When I say ‘we’, I mean the younger generation of this country,” Mr. Gandhi said, speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex.
The LoP said if Mr. Shah ordered that students be shot at, he is culpable, and if he did not, then he is incompetent, and in both the cases he should resign. “For the last 20 days, Amit Shah has been missing. The Home Minister of India has no courage; he cannot come to the House,” he added.
Mr. Gandhi said Mr. Shah’s image “balloon” had been deflated and there was a last-ditch attempt to fill gas in it but “the balloon has burst”.
#WATCH | Delhi | LoP, Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi says, "The Opposition has clearly said that we are not interested in Amit Shah giving us a lecture. When I say 'we', I mean the younger generation of this country. Who shot the students? Who gave the order to beat up the students with… pic.twitter.com/2TSom00vLe
Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla told protesting Opposition members that even if their approach and thoughts differ from the ruling front, the country wants the House to function.
He also appealed to the Opposition to allow the House to function, stressing that it was not right for them to tarnish the image of the House by holding protests and shouting slogans.
However, with the Opposition unrelenting, he adjourned the proceedings till 2 p.m.
The Question Hour was held for less than three minutes on Wednesday (August 12, 2026). Since the start of the Monsoon Session on July 20, the Question Hour has not been completed even a single day. Today is the 18th straight day that the Question Hour has been disrupted.
Lok Sabha proceedings have been disrupted continuously since the start of the Monsoon Session on July 20 in the wake of persisting differences between the Opposition and the government over various issues.
With PTI, ANI inputs
Published - August 12, 2026 12:49 pm IST
India / parliament / Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha / Amit Shah / Rahul Gandhi / Parliament proceedings
Source: The Hindu - India News
