New Delhi, Aug 12: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urging him to consult with the Opposition parties for a discussion on the NEET students’ protest, stating that in a democratic nation, “solutions emerge only through discussion and dialogue”.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to remain present in the Lok Sabha when the debate is scheduled and is willing to answer every question raised by the Opposition.

In his letter, HM Shah said: “You are aware that the Hon’ble Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, has agreed on behalf of the Government, during the Business Advisory Committee meeting, to a discussion in Parliament regarding the student protests concerning the NEET examination.”

He mentioned that even before the Opposition’s request, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, was discussed in the Parliament; however, “no Hon’ble Member of Parliament from the Opposition expressed any views regarding the NEET examination in the House at that time”.

Nevertheless, he said that the Centre is ready to discuss this issue again.

“I request you to consult with the Opposition and, based on mutual agreement, allocate as much time, whether in terms of days or hours, as you deem appropriate, starting today. I intend to remain present in the House during the scheduled time to participate in the discussion on this matter and am prepared to answer all questions raised by the Opposition,” the Home Minister said.

“In a democracy, solutions emerge only through discussion and dialogue. I have unwavering faith in democracy and democratic institutions, and I believe that this House exists precisely for the purpose of discussion and dialogue,” he added.

“Therefore, I urge you to consult with Opposition leaders and facilitate a discussion on this important subject in a constructive atmosphere, so that all Hon’ble Members, from both the Treasury and Opposition benches, may present their valuable opinions and views,” HM Shah added.

This comes against the backdrop of the Opposition’s questions over the Home Minister’s “absence” from the House. The Opposition has sought a statement on the police action against students who participated in the protest march. The standoff has led to repeated disruptions.

Earlier in the day, speaking to reporters on the Parliament premises, Home Minister Shah hit back at the Opposition over allegations that he was avoiding the Parliament and said that he had been regularly attending the ongoing Monsoon Session.

HM Shah said that Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rijiju had already made it clear that the government was prepared to hold a detailed discussion on the protests by students. He said the government had accepted the Opposition’s original demand for a discussion and maintained that he himself had made it clear that he was prepared to answer questions on the matter in the Parliament.

New Delhi, Aug 12: Samajwadi Party chief and MP, Akhilesh Yadav, on Wednesday alleged that the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) were aimed at targeting minorities and accused the NDA government of introducing the legislation to serve its own interests.

Speaking to reporters, Yadav questioned the need for the amendment to the Bill and criticised the government’s performance on infrastructure projects.

“Why do they want to bring the FCRA amendments? Is it only to suppress minorities? Is it only to serve their own interests? You are building airports, yet they get flooded with water. You are constructing expressways, yet there are potholes. What are you doing?” he said.

Drawing a comparison between governance and the recent aviation controversy, Yadav added, “Hume plane chalane walon aur pradesh chalane walon mein samanta dikhai de rahi hai.”

Samajwadi Party MP, Awadhesh Prasad, also raised concerns over the proposed legislation, saying that laws should not be enacted without clear intent and practical implementation.

“If the government’s intention is not right, then there is no point in passing such a Bill. There are many laws that have been passed but are not being implemented properly and remain ineffective in practice,” he said.

Another Samajwadi Party leader, MP Ram Gopal Yadav, argued that there was no need for the proposed amendments. He said voluntary organisations, religious organisations especially missionaries and NGOs have played a significant role in providing education, health and welfare services in several parts of the country, including tribal regions.

“There was no need to bring this Bill in the first place. In states such as Jharkhand, in the Dang region of Gujarat and in other tribal areas, the work done by missionaries, voluntary organisations and NGOs has often been greater than what governments have achieved. Restricting them would deprive millions of poor children of education and other essential services,” he said.

CPI MP, P. Santhosh Kumar, said the Opposition had demanded that the Bill be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

“There is no necessity for these amendments. However, referring the Bill to a JPC was one of the major demands raised by Opposition parties. Since the BJP will have a majority in the committee, we do not expect any positive outcome,” he said.

RSP MP, N.K. Premachandran, reiterated his party’s demand for the withdrawal of the Bill.

“Our consistent stand has been that the FCRA Bill should be withdrawn. The government is now proposing to send it to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, but the purpose of the Bill appears to be to exercise greater control over charitable organisations, NGOs and institutions run by minority communities,” he said.

Guwahati, Aug 12: The Assam government is working in “mission mode” to repair and strengthen flood-damaged embankments across the state, with four of five breach points in Jorhat district already restored, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday.

Taking to X, CM Sarma said the state administration was working on a priority basis under the #AssamFloodResponse initiative to repair and strengthen embankments and prevent further damage in vulnerable areas.

“In Jorhat, work at 4 of the 5 breach points is already complete, with the remaining work at Shalmara nearing completion,” the Chief Minister said.

The progress comes as the state continues to strengthen its flood-control infrastructure following damage caused to embankments at several locations. Embankments play a crucial role in protecting Assam’s flood-prone settlements and agricultural areas from rising water levels.

Breaches in these structures can lead to rapid inundation of villages, farmland and infrastructure, making timely restoration critical.

The government has been directing officials and field agencies to accelerate repair works at vulnerable locations and reinforce embankments to improve their resilience against future flooding.

The Jorhat works are among the ongoing measures being undertaken as part of the state’s wider flood-response efforts. The completion of four breach points is expected to strengthen protection in the affected areas, while work at Shalmara is being expedited for early completion.

Assam remains particularly vulnerable to annual floods because of its extensive river network, including the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.

Flooding frequently affects habitation, agriculture, roads and other public infrastructure across several districts.

The state government has also been focusing on preventive measures, including strengthening embankments at vulnerable stretches and improving preparedness before subsequent waves of flooding.

CM Sarma’s update highlights the administration’s emphasis on rapid restoration of damaged flood-control infrastructure while simultaneously working to strengthen embankments against future threats.

The Chief Minister said the government would continue working in mission mode, underscoring the priority being accorded to flood management and protection of vulnerable communities.