Parliament Adjourned Amid Standoff Over Home Minister’s Presence

While the Upper House was forced to shut down during Question Hour following persistent sloganeering, the Lok Sabha managed to pass the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The legislation introduces a national digital platform for voluntary MSME registration and shifts the legal framework from conviction-based fines to a system of graded penalties and initial warnings.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed opposition demands as an attempt to dictate government procedure. He countered claims made by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, who alleged that the Chair had previously directed the Home Minister to address the chamber. Rijiju maintained that Shah remains present in the Parliament complex daily, asserting that the opposition is merely seeking to disrupt proceedings rather than engage in substantive debate. He further claimed that opposition members frequently leave the building early, while ministers remain to handle legislative business.