The Monsoon Session of Parliament got off to a stormy start today as proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were repeatedly disrupted over the alleged NEET examination paper leak, while the national capital witnessed massive protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), bringing large parts of central Delhi to a standstill.
The Lok Sabha assembled at 11 am and paid tributes to six former members who had passed away. However, normal business could not proceed as Opposition members, including MPs from the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, demanded an immediate discussion on the alleged NEET paper leak.
Speaker Om Birla appealed to members to maintain decorum and allow the House to function, but continuous sloganeering forced repeated adjournments. Similar scenes unfolded after the House reconvened at noon and again at 12.30 pm, with Presiding Officer Dilip Saikia unable to take up the Zero Hour amid persistent protests.
The Rajya Sabha also witnessed repeated disruptions. The Upper House began with the swearing-in of newly elected and re-elected members before paying homage to four former members. Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge sought to raise the NEET issue, but sustained protests led Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan to adjourn the House multiple times.
Outside Parliament, thousands of CJP supporters converged in Delhi for the outfit’s “Chalo Sansad” march, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged examination irregularities. Authorities responded with an extensive security deployment, sealing off roads leading to Parliament and imposing multiple layers of barricades around the high-security zone.
Traffic across central Delhi was severely affected as key roads, including Sansad Marg, Janpath, Jantar Mantar Road, Tolstoy Road and Jai Singh Marg, were closed or diverted, causing major congestion. Several Delhi Metro stations were also shut temporarily, disrupting commuter movement across the city.
Tension escalated near Parliament Street after protesters allegedly attempted to breach police barricades. Police used tear gas and reportedly resorted to a baton charge to disperse the crowd, while several protesters were detained. Minor injuries were reported on both sides.
Mobile internet services were reportedly disrupted around the protest venue, affecting communication and digital payment services. The road closures also led to a sharp increase in transport fares, with commuters reporting unusually high autorickshaw charges.
Report said , Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the Parliament House complex. Although no official details of the meeting were disclosed, it came as the agitation intensified both inside and outside Parliament.
The CJP claimed that the Centre had initiated its first formal outreach since the agitation began, with party representatives scheduled to meet Union Minister and former BJP president J.P. Nadda.
Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke ended his hunger strike after reportedly being persuaded by the father of a NEET aspirant who had died by suicide. Social activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is undergoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital, also appealed to doctors to allow him to briefly leave the hospital to participate in the march.
The CJP, launched earlier this year by Abhijeet Dipke following remarks made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant referring to a section of youth as “cockroaches,” has rapidly evolved from a satirical campaign into a nationwide youth-led movement, drawing widespread support both online and on the streets.
With the Opposition determined to press for a discussion on the NEET controversy and protests continuing outside Parliament, the Monsoon Session is expected to remain politically charged in the days ahead.