New Delhi

The Congress on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his continued absence from the Lok Sabha, saying his “no-show” despite business being listed against his name had proved that “those who intimidate are themselves cowards”.

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said Mr. Shah had again stayed away from the Lok Sabha despite the government’s attempts to “shift the narrative”.

“Once again, he has proved that those who intimidate are themselves cowards,” Mr. Ramesh said in a post on X.

He said the Home Minister had now been absent from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha for 17 days, calling it “truly unprecedented”.

“The question naturally arises: Is he well? Is all ok between #1 and #2? The nation wants to know,” Mr. Ramesh said, in an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Shah.

Deadlock continues

The Congress and other Opposition parties have been disrupting proceedings for nearly three weeks, demanding that Mr. Shah be present in the House and respond to the police action against protesting students in Delhi on July 20.

The Opposition has specifically sought an explanation on who ordered the firing of pellets at the students.

The government’s offer on Monday to hold a debate on student movements and allow the Home Minister to reply failed to break the deadlock, with the Congress insisting that Mr. Shah’s response should specifically address the alleged pellet firing.

The Opposition also continued to raise the issue of the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, calling a discussion on it “non-negotiable”.