Parliament Monsoon Session Day 9: Opposition turns up heat over CJP protest police action

New Delhi: The alleged police crackdown on Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters emerged as the biggest flashpoint in Parliament on Thursday, with Congress MPs staging a demonstration outside Parliament even as the Lok Sabha prepared to take up key legislative business, including a Bill to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges.

Led by senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, party MPs gathered at Makar Dwar to protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the police action during the July 20 CJP-led demonstration.

The protest marked yet another day of confrontation between the Opposition and the Centre over the handling of student-led agitations.

Backing Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Ujjwal Raman Singh said asking someone to apologise for 'speaking the truth' would set a dangerous precedent. Questioning the reported use of pellet guns, tear gas shells and AK-47s during the protests, he asked who would be held accountable and accused the BJP-led government of sidestepping the issue instead of addressing the allegations.

Despite the political storm, the Lok Sabha's legislative agenda remained packed.

Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is scheduled to move the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which seeks to increase the sanctioned strength of the apex court from 34 to 38 judges.

The proposal received Union Cabinet approval in May.

The House is also set to table two reports of the Standing Committee on External Affairs.

One examines India's strategic role and presence in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, while the other reviews the government's action taken on the committee's recommendations regarding the future of India-Bangladesh relations.

The developments come on the ninth day of the Monsoon Session, with tensions between the government and the Opposition continuing to overshadow parliamentary proceedings.