There is a deadlock in both the houses of Parliament over NEET-UG paper leak. INDIA block is demanding resignation and discussion of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The government says it is ready for debate, but the opposition is imposing new conditions.
New Delhi [भारत]July 22 (ANI): Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were hit by multiple adjournments amid the standoff between the Center and the Opposition, as the INDIA block demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and insisted on a discussion on the NEET-UG paper leak.
Deadlock on NEET: Opposition adamant on resignation, government ready for discussion
Opposition members, including DMK’s Tiruchi Siva, demanded a discussion under Rule 267, under which specific rules relating to listed business in the Rajya Sabha are suspended. The government has said that it is ready for debate, but opposition members should not impose new conditions.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that Pradhan should resign for a fair discussion. Kharge said, “If there is to be a fair discussion, the education minister should first resign. Unless he resigns, there will be no fair discussion here.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that when the government is ready for debate, the opposition is imposing new conditions. “If you are looking for excuses for not discussing, then it is not right,” Rijiju said, adding that the government is “100 per cent ready” to discuss the issue.
House leader and Union Minister JP Nadda alleged that members of the INDIA block were behaving irresponsibly. Nadda said, “The conduct of the Indi alliance is very irresponsible. We can clearly see this undemocratic conduct in Parliament. Parliamentary decorum is being violated, and democratic values are being violated. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has just said very clearly that the government is ready to discuss all issues.”
Demonstration in black clothes in Parliament premises
Following Congress’ Lok Kalyan Marg protest on Tuesday, opposition MPs wore black and protested against the government in the Parliament complex. Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and KC Venugopal were among the leaders who protested in the Parliament complex.
Priyanka Gandhi criticized the central government, saying it allows lengthy debates on topics including Vande Mataram, while preventing broader discussions requested by the opposition through adjournment motions. He told reporters, “We discussed Vande Mataram for 10 hours. Now again, they are bringing a bill on Vande Mataram. So, why can’t we have a long and detailed discussion on the adjournment motion? You should ask this to the government.”
Congress MP KC Venugopal said the opposition has unanimously decided to continue to press for discussion on the NEET paper leak issue through an adjournment motion, while also reiterating the demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav, who was present at the Cockroach Janata Party’s July 20 protest, hit out at the Center over the police action against protesting students, asking if this is the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ‘Ram Rajya’ where “students are beaten and girls’ clothes are torn”.
Dimple Yadav said, “Is this BJP’s ‘Ram Rajya’? Where students are beaten up, and girls’ clothes are torn. We want discussion, but the government does not want the same. We want discussion on the issues of Ram Temple, NEET and police and CRPF action against students. We also want the resignation of their minister (Dharmendra Pradhan).”
Senior lawyer and Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi called the proposed discussions a “hollow formality” if key opposition demands, including the minister’s resignation, continue to be rejected. Singhvi stressed that a meaningful debate requires substantive discussions around key ministerial accountability and active participation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi rather than procedural debates.
Venugopal also alleged that the government cut off internet around Jantar Mantar, where the CJP is leading a protest. The Congress leader wrote, “PM Modi has cut off the internet around Jantar Mantar, creating massive panic. This is a direct attack on freedom of expression to silence the voice of India’s youth and hide the brutality of Delhi Police. Be careful, Mr Modi – any unfair move to crush this youth protest will be very destructive, and people will give you a historic punishment.”
Other developments in Parliament
In other developments in Parliament, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kalyan Banerjee was suspended from the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the monsoon session after complaining to the Speaker about alleged inappropriate behavior and foul language against women MPs.
Amid rumors of NCP (SP) joining the NDA camp, party chief Sharad Pawar and MP Supriya Sule met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament. However, the NCP (SP) has denied the claims of switching sides, and Sule was also seen at the Congress-led protest on Lok Kalyan Marg on Tuesday.
Congress and BJP protest on the streets across the country
Meanwhile, Congress and BJP clashed on the streets of various states in India after the opposition protested near the Prime Minister’s residence. On Tuesday, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and other leaders staged a protest at Lok Kalyan Marg. Many leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Charanjit Singh Channi were taken into custody by the police.
Today both Congress and BJP held nationwide protests. BJP’s protest against Congress leaders turned into a clash with Students Federation of India (SFI) workers, who were already on hunger strike outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Shimla’s CTO Chowk. Police personnel intervened and controlled the situation.
SFI Himachal Pradesh state secretary Vivek Birsanta alleged that BJP workers attacked students who were peacefully marching towards the Deputy Commissioner’s office, while BJP Himachal Pradesh vice president Balbir Verma alleged that the party’s protest was organized with prior permission and accused Congress supporters of trying to disrupt the event.
In Mandya, Karnataka, a massive protest was organized by the District Youth Congress against the NEET-UG paper leak, condemning the central government. The protest march started from MIMS campus in Mandya and ended at Sanjay Circle.
In Assam, the Pradesh Congress Committee organized a protest rally in Guwahati, demanding the immediate resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and immediate withdrawal of all FIRs registered against the protesting students in Delhi.
BJP workers also protested against Congress’ Lok Kalyan Marg demonstration in Guwahati. Minister of State Piyush Hazarika said, “7 Lok Kalyan Marg is the residence of the Prime Minister of India, not a private residence of any individual. Therefore, we condemn the drama created by Congress Party leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi visiting that residence. As far as the students’ agitation is concerned, we will not speak against it. We respect the students and their right to express their concerns.”
Congress workers protested in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, while the BJP was also seen protesting in Karnataka, Manipur and Madhya Pradesh. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)