Rijiju Meets Gandhi to Break Parliamentary Deadlock

In a renewed effort to break a prolonged parliamentary deadlock, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju met with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on August 5. This marked the second such meeting in two days as the government seeks to restart legislative business in the ongoing Monsoon Session, which has been paralyzed by repeated disruptions since it began on July 20.

The discussions centered on finding a way to end the stalemate and ensure the smooth passage of pending legislation, including a proposed Delimitation Bill and the Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment Bill, 2026. According to sources, the government believes it has the numbers required to pass these bills but is seeking broader consensus, particularly with the principal opposition party. However, Gandhi reportedly stated he would first need to consult with other parties in the opposition alliance before engaging further with the government.

The opposition has set conditions for allowing normal proceedings to resume. Congress sources said Gandhi demanded discussions on two specific issues: the alleged police action against student protesters in Delhi and allegations regarding the theft of...