Parliament Logjam Continues; Amit Shah Holds Key Meeting with Speaker Om Birla

With Parliament continuing to witness repeated disruptions, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday held a significant meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, as the government and the opposition remained locked in a bitter standoff over demands for a debate on the police crackdown on protesting students and allegations related to the Ram temple donation theft.

The nearly hour-long meeting at the Speaker's office came against the backdrop of repeated adjournments in the Lok Sabha, where opposition members have been pressing for a detailed discussion on the issues and insisting that Shah personally respond in the House.

The opposition has been disrupting proceedings while seeking an explanation from the Home Minister over the alleged use of force by police against students who marched towards Parliament on July 20. The issue has emerged as one of the principal flashpoints of the ongoing session, with both sides refusing to soften their positions.

Although no official details of the discussion between Shah and Birla were disclosed, the meeting assumed significance amid efforts to ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament and restore normal legislative business.

In a separate development, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met Shah at his Parliament House office on Friday, though no immediate information was available regarding the agenda of their interaction.

Defending the government's stand in the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju rejected the opposition's insistence on a specific minister replying to the debate. He asserted that the opposition could not dictate which minister should respond on behalf of the government.

Rijiju further emphasised that Amit Shah attends Parliament every day and remains present until late in the evening, underscoring the Home Minister's availability during the session despite the continuing impasse.

With neither side showing signs of backing down, the parliamentary deadlock is expected to persist unless fresh negotiations produce a breakthrough, raising concerns over the legislative agenda scheduled for the remainder of the session.