Amit Shah comes to Lok Sabha finally, only for House to be adjourned

After an 18-day Monsoon Session filled with disruptions, Union Home Minister Amit Shah made his first appearance in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, only to have proceedings immediately adjourned sine die. Shah joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari at the Treasury Benches in the front row.

Speaker Om Birla led the House by asking members to stand for the national song, but it was his subsequent announcement that the session was adjourned sine die that stood out. This marked a stark contrast to the previous 18 days, when Opposition MPs frequently disrupted proceedings by shouting slogans and demanding Shah's statement on the police action against protesters at Jantar Mantar on July 20.

The Opposition has been demanding an answer from Shah regarding alleged force used against students protesting over the NEET paper leak and other issues, as well as an apology from Prime Minister Modi. Shah had offered to answer the Opposition's questions if the House could function, proposing to suspend Question Hour to allow for an extended debate.

However, the Opposition rejected his offer, stating they desired specific questions and not a general lecture.