Opposition Cannot Decide Which Minister Responds: Rijiju

New Delhi, Aug 7: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday said the Opposition cannot dictate which minister should appear in the Lok Sabha to respond to issues, amid demands by Congress and other parties for Home Minister Amit Shah to answer questions over police action against protesting students.

As proceedings were disrupted again, Rijiju said the government and the Chair decide which minister will respond to listed business, and not the Opposition.

“As per procedure, the minister who has listed business has to come to the House. You cannot dictate which minister will come to the House and who will respond. That is decided by the government and the Chair,” Rijiju said.

He also defended Shah’s presence in Parliament, saying the Home Minister attends the House regularly and stays till late hours.

“Shah is a man whose name sends shivers down the spine of extremists and terrorists,” Rijiju said, drawing desk-thumping from Treasury bench members.

“The day discussion begins here (in Lok Sabha) and when Amit Shah responds, you (Opposition) won’t be able to hear (digest),” he told protesting members.

The Opposition has been demanding a response from Shah over police action against students protesting in the national capital against the alleged NEET paper leak last month.

The issue, along with several other matters, has repeatedly disrupted the Monsoon Session, which began on July 20.

Rijiju urged Opposition members to stop disrupting House proceedings. On Thursday, Chairman C P Radhakrishnan had asked Rijiju to “echo the sentiments” of Opposition members to the Home Minister as their demand for Shah’s response continued.

Amid continued uproar on Friday, the House was adjourned and will reconvene on Monday.

During the nearly 16-minute Zero Hour, the Lok Sabha passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 without debate. Papers and reports of various Parliamentary committees were also tabled. (Agencies)