Overview
- Parliament remained paralysed on Aug 5 after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju held a near-50-minute meeting with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi that failed to end repeated adjournments.
- The Opposition is refusing to allow routine business until Home Minister Amit Shah makes a statement on alleged police action against student protesters and the alleged embezzlement of Ram Temple donations.
- The government has pressed a few bills through by voice vote, including the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill in the Lok Sabha and the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha, while Question Hour has not been held since the session began.
- State-level tensions are feeding the national standoff with the Himachal BJP holding a large rally on Aug 5 over alleged false cases, Jharkhand BJP backing students who demand a CBI probe into exam irregularities, and Karnataka BJP threatening to disrupt its legislature over a ministerial appointment.
- The impasse leaves the government short of clear support for the two-thirds majority needed for a constitutional delimitation amendment, the Monsoon Session will not be extended according to ministers, and backchannel talks are continuing to try to break the logjam.