Kerala name change, co-operative sector bills cleared without debate as Lok Sabha deadlock continues

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla conducts the proceedings of the House during the Monsoon Session of Parliament on August 11, 2026. Photo: Sansad TV via ANI Video Grab Even as the deadlock between the Opposition and the government continued, the Lok Sabha on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) passed two Bills, one on renaming Kerala to ‘Keralam’, without discussion.While the List of Business mentioned that Home Minister Amit Shah would move for the passage of the Bills, the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 and the National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 were moved by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai and Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol respectively.Also read: Parliament Monsoon Session Day 17 updatesThe Opposition has virtually stalled proceedings of the House over its demand that Mr. Shah make a statement on the use of force against student protesters in Delhi and the alleged donation theft in the Ram Temple.As soon as the House convened in the morning, Opposition members trooped into the well carrying placards and shouting slogans asking Mr. Shah to come to the House. At this, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till 2 p.m.When the House reassembled at 2 p.m., the Opposition protests resumed, and TDP member Krishna Prasad Tenneti allowed the laying of papers on the table amid the din.Also read: ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’: What is the process to change the name of a State?Following this, Mr. Nityanand Rai moved the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, which seeks to change the State’s name to Keralam for consideration and passage. The Bill was then passed by a voice vote without any debate.Taking a swipe at the Opposition, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Congress member K.C. Venugopal wanted to speak on the Bill on his home State but could not do so due to the uproar.Mr. Rai too took a dig at the Congress, the ruling party in Kerala, saying: “It seems the Congress MPs are not in favour of the renaming”.After this, Mr. Mohol moved the National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which was also passed without debate amid the continued ruckus.The House was then adjourned for the day.Rijiju slams CongressOutside the House, Mr. Rijiju told the media that the government had on Monday (August 10) offered to have a detailed discussion on the incidents related to the students’ protest and was fully prepared to respond. “All NDA MPs were seated in the House with the expectation that the discussion would begin, and the Home Minister was also fully prepared to respond. But the Congress once again walked out, raised slogans outside and did not allow the discussion to take place. It has now become clear to the people of the country that we are ready for a discussion, while the Congress is running away from it”.Also outside the House, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the Opposition had three issues: “Who ordered the lathi-charge and firing on students — Amit Shah should come to the House and answer this. Due to the police brutality, many children have been injured — Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise for this. On the ‘offering theft’ that happened in the Ram Temple — Mr. Modi should respond”.Mr. Venugopal said: “Whenever a serious question is raised about the atrocities against students in Delhi, this is the response the Modi government gives. Wherever there are attacks against students, we condemn them. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi said the same thing yesterday. The Modi government cannot divert attention from the atrocities in Delhi by raising the Jharkhand issue”. Published - August 11, 2026 07:38 pm IST