Parliament monsoon session LIVE: ‘Making a 15-year-old girl apologise is complete nonsense’, says Rahul Gandhi

Parliament monsoon session LIVE: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026, which seeks to modernise the legal framework governing the admissibility of bank records as evidence and align it with the growing use of digital banking. Moved by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the bill was passed amid Opposition protests without a discussion.

Rahul Gandhi press briefing: Model Ria Ahir introduced herself as the woman seen confronting the Mumbai Police during the protests. Rejecting the description of her as merely the “girl who went viral”, she said, “I am the girl who stopped 20 children from being unlawfully detained.” She asked the media to “change your narrative” and focus on why she intervened.

Ahir alleged that she had faced sustained online harassment after the incident. She claimed that party workers had circulated false and defamatory posts about her on social media, including allegations that she was “selling my body for ₹140″. “This is not trolling, it is a crime,” she said.

Rahul Gandhi press briefing: Gandhi said the Congress wanted an education system that functions properly and respects students. “We want an education system that works. We want exam leaks to stop. And we want the future of this country, our students, to be respected and protected,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi press briefing: The Congress MP accused the Modi government of forcing students to apologise and intimidating their families. “Sending goons to their homes, sending goons into women’s homes, forcibly making them apologise, making a 15-year-old girl apologise, and then accepting that apology, that is complete nonsense. We do not accept it,” Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi press briefing: Rahul Gandhi said the students were only demanding an end to exam paper leaks and improvements in the education system. Calling the current system “flawed”, “collapsing” and “useless”, he said it needed to be corrected. “They were not being violent. They were not being aggressive. They were not being nasty. They were beaten, they were assaulted, and they were threatened,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi press briefing: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi praised the student protesters, saying they had “defended the Constitution”, protected the idea of India and stood up for the country’s future. He said raising concerns over the education system and demanding reforms was not a crime.

Rahul Gandhi press briefing: Student protester Muskan Sharma alleged that she was assaulted by a Rapid Action Force (RAF) officer during the police action on the CJP protest. “The people who are supposed to protect me are the ones beating me. Where should I go for my protection?” she said. Sharma also questioned the officer’s conduct, asking, “Why did he try to jab a baton into my buttocks?” She made the remarks while addressing the media alongside Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi press briefing: Rahul Gandhi joins students; protesters say, ‘If we had demanded Amit Shah’s resignation, they would have fired real bullets’

Rahul Gandhi press briefing: Rahul Gandhi addressing media alongside CJP protester Rhiya Ahir and other students who were subject to police action during the NEET protests in Delhi on July 20.

Parliament monsoon session LIVE: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026.

Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will address the media at 5 pm on Wednesday outside 10 Janpath in New Delhi, party sources said.

(With inputs from Saubhadra Chatterji)

Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday accused the Congress, CPI and Samajwadi Party of taking an “anti-Lord Ram” stand, alleging that they had opposed the existence of Lord Ram and protested the construction of the Ram Mandir. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Rijiju claimed the Opposition had worn black bands when the temple was being built and demanded that the three parties apologise to the country and for “insulting Lord Ram”.

Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Government sources told PTI that home minister Amit Shah is expected to speak in Parliament when the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 comes up for discussion and passage, amid Opposition criticism over his absence from the House.

Parliament monsoon session LIVE: In a bid to end the ongoing Parliament deadlock, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and sought the Congress’ cooperation to ensure the smooth functioning of the House for the remainder of the Monsoon session.

Parliament monsoon session LIVE: BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat criticised the Opposition over repeated disruptions in Parliament, alleging that it was preventing discussion on key legislations, including the anti-paper leak bill. She said the Opposition had demanded a law against paper leaks but did not allow a proper discussion when the bill was introduced. “These bills are for the progress of the country and the welfare of the people, but the way the Opposition is not allowing Parliament to function is a deceit to the people of the country. They should allow Parliament to function,” Sehrawat said. (PTI)

Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Amid noisy protests by Opposition members, the Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill to recognise digital bank records as admissible evidence in courts. The legislation seeks to accord legal validity to electronic records maintained by banks.

Parliament monsoon session LIVE: INDIA bloc parties staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday during a debate on a bill seeking to increase the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court. (PTI)

Parliament monsoon session LIVE: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has moved the Bankers’ Books Evidence bill, 2026, for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha.

The bill was tabled by Sitharaman earlier this week.

The Lok Sabha has resumed its session amid uproar from the Opposition.

Parliament monsoon session LIVE: The Rajya Sabha has begun its discussion on the Supreme Court judges amendment bill. The bill, which calls for an expansion of the bench of the top court to 38, has already been passed in the Lok Sabha.

Parliament monsoon session LIVE: As the Opposition continues its demand for a discussion over the police crackdown on student protestors, SP MP Iqra Hassan has called on the BJP-led government to give a statement.

“The government is accountable; they ought to come forward. They should come to the House and answer who issued the orders for such brutality that day. This has been our persistent demand. On the day the House was in session, the Speaker stated that an answer would be provided, yet nothing happened. We demand that a responsible person provide an answer,” she told reporters.

Parliament monsoon session LIVE: BJP MP Jagdambika Pal has accused the Opposition of deliberately disrupting the Parliament proceedings. The BJP MP also hit out at Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders for their silence on the ongoing student protests in Jharkhand.

“Why is the opposition protesting? Students in Ranchi have been agitating over the JPSC paper leak for 13 days, yet their Chief Minister hasn’t even spoken to them; Rahul Gandhi and the entire opposition remain silent on that. Here, however, the Prime Minister and two senior ministers addressed the students’ interests, and their demands were accepted… The opposition is deliberately not allowing the House to function,” he told reporters.

Parliament monsoon session LIVE: As soon as the Rajya Sabha reconvened at 12 noon, speaker and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan advised members to not enter the well of the House and never try to show placards, failing which he would be forced to take action.

“My humble request to all the members (is that), you should cooperate with the Chair. Please never try to enter the well of the House and never try to show the placards. These two things you have to follow. If any member is not following these two instructions. I may not be hearing them. I will not be able to give them any chance and I will be forced to take action,” he said, and took up the Question Hour.

However, the Opposition parties continued to raise slogans in support of their demand.

Parliament monsoon session LIVE: On the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi has criticised the decision, calling the removal of the article “unconstitutional.”

“Militant activities are still taking place there. While the Supreme Court has delivered its verdict and we respect the Court, I personally believe the decision was flawed because Article 370 was removed in an unconstitutional manner, and statehood has still not been restored…The government had promised this in Parliament itself. If so many years have passed, why has statehood not been restored?” he told reporters amid the monsoon session of Parliament.