Parliament Monsoon Session: Lok Sabha Passes MSME Amendment Bill as Both Houses Adjourn Amid Opposition Protests
Parliament Monsoon Session: Proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were disrupted on Friday as opposition members continued demanding a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the police action against protesters on July 20. Amid repeated sloganeering and protests, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day, while the Lok Sabha completed legislative business by passing the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned during the Question Hour after persistent disruptions, while the Lok Sabha also witnessed noisy scenes as opposition members pressed their demand for the Home Minister to address the House.
Opposition Presses for Amit Shah’s Statement
The latest disruption in the Monsoon Session centred on the opposition’s demand that Union Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement in Parliament regarding the police action against protesters on July 20.
Despite repeated appeals from the Chair to allow the House to function, opposition members continued raising slogans, leading to repeated interruptions in parliamentary proceedings.
In the Rajya Sabha, Chairperson C.P. Radhakrishnan urged members from both the treasury benches and the opposition to return to their seats and allow the House to conduct scheduled business. However, the disruptions continued, forcing the House to be adjourned for the remainder of the day during Question Hour.
Lok Sabha Continues Legislative Business Amid Protests
Although protests continued in the Lower House, the Lok Sabha proceeded with government business and approved the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after it had already received approval from the Rajya Sabha.
The legislation introduces reforms relating to MSME registration, dispute resolution mechanisms and penalties under the existing law, making it one of the key pieces of business completed during Friday’s sitting despite the political deadlock.
| Parliament Proceedings at a Glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | August 7, 2026 |
| Main Opposition Demand | Statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 20 police action |
| Rajya Sabha Status | Adjourned during Question Hour |
| Lok Sabha Status | Adjourned for the day after completing legislative business |
| Major Bill Passed | Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 |
| Next Scheduled Sitting | 11:00 AM on August 10 |
Kiren Rijiju Rejects Opposition’s Demand on Ministerial Attendance
As disruptions continued in the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju strongly rejected the opposition’s insistence that Union Home Minister Amit Shah should immediately address the House. He maintained that the opposition could not decide which minister would participate in parliamentary proceedings or determine the timing of a minister’s appearance.
Responding during the debate, Rijiju said,
“Home Minister Amit Shah ka naam sun ke aatankwadi kaanp uththe hain.”
He further stated that the Home Minister remains present in Parliament for long hours and that the opposition could not dictate the government’s conduct of business.
“When the discussion starts, you will not be able to listen. He is in Parliament for long hours. Opposition cannot dictate which minister should come. A concerned minister is present in the House,”
The minister maintained that the government was being represented by the minister responsible for the business before the House and rejected the opposition’s demand that only the Home Minister could respond.
Mallikarjun Kharge Raises the Issue in Rajya Sabha
In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated the demand for Amit Shah’s statement and claimed that Chairperson C.P. Radhakrishnan had directed the Home Minister to appear before the House.
Kharge alleged that the treasury benches were disregarding the Chair’s direction and not respecting the House.
“You (the Chair) had asked the Home Minister to come and deliver a statement in the House. But they (the treasury benches) are not respecting your word and are insulting the House,”
Government Refutes Claim of Chair’s Direction
Rijiju immediately disputed the opposition’s assertion, saying there had been no direction issued by the Chair requiring Amit Shah to appear in the House.
He also rejected allegations that the Home Minister was absent from Parliament, stating that Shah remains in the Parliament complex from the beginning of proceedings until late in the evening.
“The LoP is misleading the House. There has been no direction by the Chair. I am saying this on the record: from the time Parliament begins in the morning till it ends at night, the Home Minister is in the Parliament. The minister responsible for the business before the House gives the reply. The opposition will not decide which minister is to come and when.”
Continuing his response, Rijiju added that opposition members themselves leave Parliament early while the Home Minister continues attending parliamentary business.
“There has been no direction issued for any minister to come to the House. You leave after 11 am, but the Home Minister stays. When the Home Minister will answer, you won’t listen. They only disturb the House,”
The exchange reflected the sharp political confrontation that dominated proceedings in both Houses before they were eventually adjourned for the day amid continued sloganeering.
Lok Sabha Passes MSME Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026
Despite repeated disruptions during the Monsoon Session, the Lok Sabha completed key legislative business by passing the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The legislation received approval after it had already been cleared by the Rajya Sabha.
According to the government, the Bill introduces several reforms aimed at improving the regulatory framework for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), promoting ease of doing business and strengthening the dispute resolution mechanism available to enterprises.
Key Provisions of the MSME Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026
| Provision | Details |
|---|---|
| National Digital Platform | Provides for notifying a national digital platform for free and voluntary registration of MSMEs. |
| MSME Facilitation Councils | Enables State Governments to establish additional Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Councils by rationalising their composition. |
| Decriminalisation | Removes criminal penalties for contravention of certain provisions. |
| Penalty Framework | Replaces conviction-based fines with graded penalties, including a warning for the first instance of non-compliance. |
The government said these amendments are intended to simplify compliance procedures while strengthening institutional support for the MSME sector.
Opposition MPs Stage Protest in Parliament Complex
Before the Houses were adjourned, opposition members also staged a protest inside the Parliament House complex, reiterating their demand for a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the police action against protesters on July 20.
Despite rain, opposition MPs gathered near Makar Dwar carrying umbrellas and placards while raising slogans against the Central government. Protesters repeatedly chanted “Amit Shah jawab do”, demanding that the Home Minister address Parliament on the issue.
Both Houses to Reconvene on August 10
With disruptions continuing throughout the day, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned until 11:00 AM on August 10. While political differences over the opposition’s demand dominated Friday’s proceedings, Parliament also completed important legislative work through the passage of the MSME Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The next sitting is expected to resume with both legislative business and the issues raised by the opposition likely to remain in focus.
