Congress MP Rajeev Shukla has attacked the government over alleged rigging in the examination. He said that the opposition is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and discussion, but the government is running away from it.
New Delhi [भारत]July 23 (ANI): Congress MP Rajiv Shukla on Thursday accused the government of avoiding discussion on the issue of alleged exam rigging and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Responding to the statement of Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Shukla said that the opposition has been demanding discussion on this matter and Pradhan’s resignation since the beginning. Shukla said, “The opposition is not shying away from the debate. The opposition is saying very clearly from the first day that you should get the education minister to resign and discuss this matter. The government is running away from it. I don’t know why they are not taking the resignation.”
Opposition demands resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan
He claimed that people have taken to the streets and alleged that prominent personalities are also demanding Pradhan’s removal. He said, “People have come out on the streets. Lakhs of people are upset. Big film stars and prominent personalities are demanding that you remove them, but you are not removing them. You are stubborn.”
Shukla further questioned how the discussion could take place if the Education Minister was not present to answer the opposition’s concerns. He said, “Discussion will happen only when someone responds to your points. You will call the Education Minister to respond. Then who will listen to that response?”
The Congress MP also accused the BJP of creating disruption both inside and outside Parliament. Shukla said, “BJP MPs are protesting against the opposition by standing in Parliament. They are confronting and fighting with the opposition. Outside, you are instigating a fight on the steps of Parliament. Inside, you are not allowing the leader of the opposition to speak, and then you are asking him to talk, to tell his problems.”
He added, “Saying one thing inside and doing something else outside is not acceptable.”
Meanwhile, Congress MP KC Venugopal claimed in a statement that “Opposition MPs are fighting unitedly, protesting for the youth of our country.” In a post on Twitter, he said, “BJP has gone completely haywire and is resorting to bullying and boasting to save its image. From our side, there is no question of backing down from our core demands starting with Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.”
Government’s counterattack
Earlier in the day, Rijiju accused the opposition of running away from discussion on the NEET paper leak issue, saying that despite initially agreeing to the debate in Parliament, India Bloc leaders started imposing conditions.
Speaking to reporters, Rijiju said he had contacted opposition members from all parties to facilitate an orderly debate. However, he claimed that as time progressed, the opposition started making “excuses” to stall the proceedings. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)