"Opposition to protest at Makar Dwar, decide future course of action", says Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain

Jul 30, 2026

New Delhi [India], July 30 : Congress Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain on Thursday said the Opposition would stage a protest at Makar Dwar in Parliament over the alleged police action against student protesters and alleged donation embezzlement at Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Speaking to ANI ahead of the protest, Hussain said all Opposition parties would participate in the demonstration before deliberating on the next steps in their agitation.
"The entire opposition will hold a protest here in front of Makar Dwar, and then we will also decide our future course of action in today's meeting," Hussain told ANI.
The protest is scheduled to be held at Makar Dwar in the Parliament complex, hours before the Rajya Sabha is expected to take up the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, for consideration and passing.
Hussain said the Opposition's protest was aimed at highlighting the alleged police action against students during the July 20 demonstration and accused the Centre of failing to honour assurances allegedly given to the protesters.
"These protests are happening every day. The way they treated the students, and afterwards, when discussions were held with the government by the students who were protesting, some promises were made to them, that no arrests would be made, no FIRs would be filed, and the government would not go after anyone," he said.
He said the Opposition had raised three demands before the government: the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a statement in Parliament on the alleged police action, and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"There were three demands. One, Pradhan should resign. Second, they should come to the House and make a statement--which they haven't done--regarding police atrocities. Third, the Prime Minister should apologize. Two demands are still remaining," Hussain said.
Questioning the absence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah from the debate, Hussain said the Delhi Police functions under the Union Home Ministry and therefore the Home Minister must answer questions regarding the alleged police action.
"Under whom does the Delhi Police fall? Under whose supervision do they work? From whom do they take directions?... The ministry that comes under Amit Shah ji, the police that comes under him--do those directions come from the Home Minister or the Railway Minister?" he asked.
Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav also reiterated his party's demand for accountability in the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement case.
"This is a matter concerning the faith of crores of people. The Samajwadi Party's argument is that you came to power--and fought the election--invoking the name of Lord Ram; yet, you allowed the very donations and offerings made to him to be stolen. This is a serious issue. It is not something that will simply go away; it will continue," Yadav told reporters.
On the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Yadav questioned whether stricter laws alone could curb paper leaks.
"I have said before, legislation alone cannot stop such things. Unless the entire process is managed by honest individuals--from those who set the papers and print them to those who transport them--it can never be prevented," he said.
Yadav further accused the government of double standards, stating, "I want to ask the people: when shots were fired in Ayodhya, Mulayam Singh was held responsible for ordering it, yet when shots were fired here, it was attributed to the administration. Just look at the double standards."
The protest comes a day after Samajwadi Party MPs, led by party chief Akhilesh Yadav, demonstrated at Makar Dwar over the alleged theft and misappropriation of offerings made at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.
It also precedes the Rajya Sabha's discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday after a marathon debate. The Bill seeks to strengthen the legal framework against examination-related malpractices by enhancing punishments for paper leaks, constituting a Special Task Force for investigations and providing for Special Fast Track Courts for time-bound trials. According to the Rajya Sabha's List of Business, discussion on the Bill is expected to begin at 2 pm.