Rama Temple donation theft sparks uproar in both houses

The opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Friday created a huge ruckus over the theft of offerings at the Ram temple, due to which the proceedings of the House had to be adjourned for the day and the Zero Hour proceedings related to matters of public importance could not be held.

As soon as the proceedings of the House were about to start after Chairman CP Radhakrishnan presented the legislative documents in the House, the opposition members started shouting loudly. Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said that they have given a notice for adjournment of the proceedings under Rule 267. The Chairman, while interrupting them, said that no notice under Rule 267 will be accepted. He said that a decision has already been made in this regard.

He told the opposition members that they should also listen to others. You always say your thing and go out. On the members raising points of order, he said that this is Zero Hour, in which points of order cannot be raised. The Chairman started the Zero Hour proceedings amidst the opposition's ruckus. Amidst the opposition's ruckus, one or two members raised their issues, but their point could not be heard due to the noise.

Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while accusing the opposition of doing street politics in Parliament, said that the opposition wants to spread chaos by hurting the dignity of the Constitution and the House. He said that we strongly condemn this. The people of the country will not forgive them. Opposition members were continuously raising anti-government slogans near the Chairman's seat. The Chairman appealed to the members to remain peaceful and let the proceedings of the House run, but seeing no effect, he adjourned the proceedings for the day.

Amidst the ruckus of opposition members in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Zero Hour could not be held and after laying important documents on the table of the House and passing the Birth and Death Registration (Amendment) Bill without any discussion, the proceedings were adjourned for the day.

Earlier, Question Hour could not be held in the House. As soon as the proceedings started at 11 am, opposition members started creating a ruckus, demanding accountability for the police action against students in Delhi on July 20 and asking for the name of the person who ordered it. Samajwadi Party members were raising slogans against the theft of offerings at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Speaker, Om Birla, adjourned the proceedings till 12 pm.

When the proceedings resumed at 12 pm, Congress and SP members again started creating a ruckus over their respective demands. Many members were carrying placards, and some members were raising slogans in the middle of the House. Amidst the ruckus, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai introduced the Birth and Death Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Presiding Officer Dilip Saikia appealed to the agitating members to return to their seats and cooperate in running the proceedings, but the ruckus continued. Meanwhile, Mr. Saikia asked Mr. Rai to move a proposal to pass the bill. After that, Mr. Saikia called out the names of members who had given notices to move amendments to the bill and to speak on it, but no member moved any amendment.

After this, Mr. Saikia allowed Mr. Rai to move a proposal to pass the bill, and the bill was passed by voice vote. After this, Mr. Saikia again requested the agitating members to stop the ruckus and cooperate in running the proceedings.