Kharge Demands Amit Shah's Statement in Rajya Sabha on July 20 Police Action; Rijiju Says LoP Cannot Dictate Government

New Delhi: A fresh confrontation erupted in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday after Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement on the police action that took place on July 20.

Raising the issue in the House, Kharge urged the government to allow a discussion and insisted that the Home Minister personally respond to the concerns raised by the Opposition. He argued that the matter was of national importance and warranted a detailed explanation from the government.

The demand led to sharp exchanges between treasury and Opposition benches, with members from both sides defending their respective positions.

Responding on behalf of the government, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju rejected the Opposition's insistence that Amit Shah alone should reply to the issue. Rijiju said the Leader of Opposition cannot dictate the functioning of the government or decide which minister should make a statement in Parliament.

He maintained that the government follows established parliamentary procedures and that it has the authority to decide which minister responds to issues raised in either House.

The Opposition, however, continued to press for Amit Shah's presence, alleging that the gravity of the July 20 police action required a direct statement from the Union Home Minister. Opposition members also sought a dedicated discussion on the matter.

The disagreement resulted in noisy scenes in the Rajya Sabha, adding to the series of disruptions witnessed during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The BJP accused the Opposition of attempting to disrupt parliamentary proceedings for political reasons, while the Congress maintained that it was only seeking accountability from the government on an issue of public importance.

The exchange underscores the continuing standoff between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition, with repeated disagreements over parliamentary procedure and demands for ministerial statements dominating the current session.