‘Constitution in Hand, But Didn’t Allow House to Function’: Nirmala Sitharaman Slams Opposition

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has turned the Opposition’s most visible political prop against it: the Constitution.

A day after a turbulent Monsoon Session ended with repeated disruptions and little debate, Sitharaman accused Opposition parties of professing faith in the Constitution while preventing Parliament from functioning.

“They go around holding a copy of the Constitution in their hands. If you truly have faith in the Constitution and truly believe in it, then you should have allowed the House to function,” Sitharaman told reporters in Jaipur on Thursday. Her attack comes after a Monsoon Session that produced an unusual contradiction: Parliament passed 12 Bills but debated only one of them.

‘Amit Shah was ready to respond’

Sitharaman said Home Minister Amit Shah had offered to answer the Opposition’s questions during a full-fledged discussion, but repeated disruptions prevented that from happening. “Our Home Minister himself had said that I would respond in the full discussion. Even after saying this, the opposition did not allow the House to function,” she said.

The Opposition, however, has argued that the government failed to provide the accountability it was seeking on issues that repeatedly rocked the session. The Monsoon Session, which began on July 20, was adjourned sine die after 19 sittings spread across 25 days. Eleven Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha and two in the Rajya Sabha, while 12 Bills were passed by both Houses. Yet only the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 received a substantive debate. The remaining 11 Bills were passed without discussion as protests and adjournments repeatedly disrupted proceedings.

Among the issues fuelling the confrontation were the NEET paper leak, alleged police action against student protesters on July 20 and allegations of theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Two of the Bills passed during the session replaced ordinances promulgated before Parliament convened: the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance and the Income-Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, both of 2026. The contentious FCRA Amendment Bill, meanwhile, was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

From Parliament to the Tiranga Yatra

Sitharaman also spoke about the Tiranga Yatra being organised across the country, pointing to the participation of school children. “The Tiranga Yatra is underway across the country. Many schoolchildren have also participated in the Tiranga Yatra with great enthusiasm,” she said.

But her sharpest message was reserved for the Opposition. After a session where the government and Opposition blamed each other for Parliament’s paralysis, Sitharaman’s argument was simple: carrying the Constitution, she suggested, means little if Parliament cannot function.

(With inputs from ANI)