'Consider request for home minister to come': RS chairman's nudge to Rijiju on Kharge's demand for Amit Shah's presence

Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan urged the Centre to contemplate the request for Union Home Minister Amit Shah to attend proceedings in the upper house. The opposition, spearheaded by Congress, has been advocating for a statement from the Home Minister regarding the police actions during the protest. Radhakrishnan informed Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju of the request during a session on Thursday, August 6th.

Prior to this, opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge, also Congress President, demanded that Amit Shah deliver a statement to the House, asserting that the opposition is prepared for dialogue on the police actions against protesters during the July 20 demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Kharge criticized Rijiju's previous comments, referencing former Union Minister Arun Jaitley's views on parliamentary disruptions and claimed the government is seeking to evade debate.

Rijiju countered that the Leader of the Opposition did not reference any rule and could not dictate House proceedings or decide which minister should address the government. Radhakrishnan intervened, instructing Rijiju to convey the opposition's sentiments to the Home Minister. The exchange unfolded as the opposition persistently demands a Home Minister's statement and a parliamentary discussion.

Earlier, Congress MP Manickam Tagore submitted an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, calling for a debate on the incident and alleging excessive force against protesting students. The opposition has also called for an independent inquiry into the matter and staged a protest inside Parliament grounds, holding signs that read "Amit Shah jawab do" (Amit Shah, give an answer).

The opposition has been protesting the government's stance since the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.