Ruling NDA, INDIA bloc MPs face off with opposing protests within Parliament House complex

Parliamentarians from the Opposition INDIA bloc and the ruling NDA faced off at the Makar Dwar in the Parliament complex on Thursday (July 23, 2026), even before the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha convened. A large number of MPs belonging to both camps stood outside the entrance to the Parliament building and shouted slogans at each other.

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Opposition MPs raised slogans like “Isteefa do [resign]”, “gaddi chhodo [leave the chair]”, and “sharam karo [have some shame]”, while the ruling party MPs criticised the Opposition for politicising the paper leak issue and raised slogans of “Vande Mataram”.

The Opposition INDIA bloc MPs were demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak and CBSE examination irregularities. Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and several other MPs belonging to INDIA bloc parties also carried banners demanding Mr. Pradhan’s ouster. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also joined the protest later.

Parliament discussion

Even as the INDIA bloc MPs continued to demand the Education Minister’s resignation, NDA MPs demanded that the NEET issue be discussed in Parliament, accusing the Opposition of running away from debate.

The Opposition, led by the Congress, which had led a high-voltage protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence on Tuesday, has put forward three demands — Mr. Pradhan’s resignation, a debate in Parliament on Monday’s police action against protesting students, and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this matter.

The government, on its part, has agreed to a discussion in the House on the paper leaks.