Opposition MPs stage a protest in Lok Sabha during the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Friday, July 31. (Sansad TV via PTI Photo)
LIVE: Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill passed in LS; both Houses adjourned
Parliament witnessed disruptions as Opposition MPs raised the alleged police crackdown on student protesters and the alleged embezzlement of Ram Mandir donations
Parliament proceedings were disrupted on Friday (July 31) as the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 11 am on Monday amid noisy Opposition protests over the alleged police crackdown on students protesting against the NEET paper leak and the alleged Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation embezzlement row.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said the Opposition members disrupted the House proceedings in what he termed as a pre-planned manner. "Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is standing to ask a question, but Opposition members are not allowing Question Hour to proceed," he said.
Also read | Anti-paper leak bill proposes tougher punishment, omits deeper flaws in supply chain
In an apparent reference to suspended TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, he said some members were roaming in the Parliament House complex in different getups. Birla said such actions lower the dignity of the house. He then adjourned the proceedings till noon.
Banerjee has been protesting against his suspension over use of undignified language against women MPs. He has been hanging photographs of 20 rebel TMC MPs who have joined a lesser-known Nationalist Citizens Party of India.
Separately, Samajwadi Party MPs have been protesting the alleged theft of donations at Ram Temple in Ayodhya. They have been carrying donation boxes and placards at the entrance of the Parliament House.
Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, passed in LS
On Friday, the Lok Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, amid Opposition protests over the police crackdown on students during the July 20 Parliament march, with the legislation being cleared without a debate.
The bill was taken up for consideration and passage after the House reassembled at noon with BJP MP Dilip Saikia in the Chair. It was passed by voice vote amid sloganeering by Opposition members, several of whom trooped into the Well demanding the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah in the House.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed displeasure over the Opposition's refusal to participate in the debate, saying the government wanted a discussion on the "important Bill".
"It is unfortunate. Please do not repeat this in the future. People who sent you to Parliament will seek answers from you," Rijiju said, urging Opposition members to participate in debates on future legislation instead of creating disruptions.
CJP questions govt approach
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said there would be “no mercy” for the paper leak mafia and stressed the need for comprehensive reforms to the education system after Parliament passed a law introducing stricter punishments for exam fraud.
The Prime Minister’s remarks, made in a video message on Instagram, drew a sharp response from Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, whose movement spearheaded the nationwide protests that culminated in the legislation. Responding to Modi's post, Dipke took a swipe at him, commenting, “Your skin is brighter than the country's future.”
Also read | How India's new anti-paper leak law can improve its exam structure
Dipke's remark comes amid a continuing confrontation between the CJP and the Centre over recurring examination paper leaks. The party has led weeks of protests, demanding sweeping reforms to the examination system, greater accountability and action against those responsible for repeated irregularities.
Even before Parliament passed the amendment bill, the CJP had criticised the proposed changes, arguing that they were aimed more at punishing those involved after a paper leak than preventing such incidents in the first place.
(With agency inputs)
Scroll below for Live updates
Live Updates
- 31 July 2026 9:03 AM IST
'We want withdrawal of FIRs, not just closure': CJP's Saurav Das
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday welcomed the Delhi government's notification directing that no further action be taken on FIRs filed in connection with its 36-day agitation, but said the cases should be formally withdrawn, warning that any dilution of the assurances given under the July 25 Jantar Mantar agreement could force students back onto the streets.
Speaking to PTI Videos, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said the wording of the notification did not reflect what was promised by the government. "The Delhi government has released a notification which says that all the FIRs will not be pursued further and they may be treated as closed. We are not very happy with the term. The term that they should have used is that the FIRs will be withdrawn," Das said.
Das said the order did not bar withdrawal of FIRs. "The government is saying that the Supreme Court has mandated that the FIRs proceed. But that's a misreading and a misleading of the situation. Nowhere in the Supreme Court order has the Supreme Court said that the FIRs cannot be withdrawn. Those powers exist with the government," he said.
He urged the Centre to honour the assurances given to protesters on July 25. "The government should not be using the Supreme Court order as a weapon to go against protesters. What was guaranteed before the entire nation on July 25, the Jantar Mantar agreement, the government should come good on its promises and honour its words," Das said.
"If it does not honour its words in letter and spirit, then the young generation of this country will never ever forgive them and will be forced to come back on the streets," Das told PTI.
- 31 July 2026 9:02 AM IST
FIR lodged in Noida against woman over alleged abusive remarks against PM Modi
A Zero FIR has been registered in Noida against a woman for allegedly using abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, police said on Thursday.
The FIR was lodged at the Expressway police station on the complaint of Smriti Singh, a resident of Ghaziabad, against Ruchika Singh, a resident of Sector 168 in Noida.
According to the FIR, the complainant alleged that on July 23, the accused used "abusive and objectionable" language against the prime minister at Jantar Mantar, hurting the dignity of the constitutional office and with the intention of spreading hatred and disturbing public peace.
Based on the complaint, the police registered a case under Sections 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 353(1) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(1) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), officials said.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Manisha Singh confirmed the registration of the case. "A resident of Ghaziabad lodged an FIR against a resident of Sector 168, Noida, alleging that she used abusive language against the Prime Minister of India at Jantar Mantar. It is a Zero FIR and will be transferred to New Delhi for further investigation," the officer said.
