The opposition has intensified protests in Parliament on the NEET-CBSE paper leak issue. Congress MP KC Venugopal said that the opposition continues to demand discussion on the adjournment motion and resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
New Delhi [भारत]July 22 (ANI): Congress MP KC Venugopal on Wednesday said the opposition has unanimously decided to continue to press for a discussion through an adjournment motion on the alleged NEET and CBSE exam paper leak issue. Besides, he also reiterated the demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Speaking to reporters inside the Parliament complex, Venugopal said the opposition parties have discussed the issue and have agreed to demand a debate under the adjournment motion. He said, “This morning, we held discussions with the opposition parties. We have decided very clearly – day before yesterday, yesterday and today – for the last three days we have been continuously moving an adjournment motion on this NEET-CBSE exam leak issue, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a proper action plan to stop this leak issue.”
Demand for discussion on adjournment motion
Venugopal said that the opposition is ready for discussion if the government accepts the adjournment motion. He said, “If the government is ready to accept the adjournment motion… yesterday, Jitendra Singh said he is ready for discussion. Discussion on which rule? This is important. We have already given the adjournment motion; there should be discussion on that.”
Calling the issue a matter of national concern, the Congress leader alleged that the government was not taking the issue as seriously as it should. Venugopal asked, “This issue has become a national issue. This issue is being talked about in every corner, every village, every family. Why is the government so insensitive on this issue?”
Protest in Parliament premises in black clothes
Opposition MPs protested against the government in the Parliament complex by wearing black clothes. Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Priyanka Gandhi and others were present in the protest.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the demands of the students are genuine and they are demanding their rights. He said, “The education budget is Rs 1.4 lakh crore, but you are waiving off loans worth Rs 16 lakh crore of Adani and Ambani. The struggle of the students is real and they are demanding change. Paper leaks are happening again and again. There is nothing undemocratic in peaceful protests, but what is happening among students and in Parliament is undemocratic.”
‘Government acting like a dictatorship’: Kharge
On Congress protest outside LKM yesterday and leaders being detained by police, Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge says, “I had said yesterday that this is not a democratic government. They are acting like a dictatorship. They do not respect MPs. They even harass those protesting as per rules. BJP-RSS volunteers work among the police without badges. They are terrorizing students and Congress leaders. Do it indirectly…If you try to crush our senior leaders, lakhs of people will stand up then you will not be able to control them.”
He further said, “We are not afraid, we will keep fighting. You will regret what you did to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi… We will show them that the Congress Party and India Bloc will continue to fight.”
Earlier in the day, Congress MP Pawan Khera told ANI that all opposition MPs were wearing black today, “in protest of what has been done to the students of this country in the capital of Delhi, in protest of Dharmendra Pradhan’s insistence on continuing in his post, and in protest of the way this government has responded to the student unrest.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, along with several other leaders, were detained by Delhi Police during the party’s protest at Lok Kalyan Marg and were later released. (ANI)
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