Amid the deadlock in Parliament over the NEET paper leak issue, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has called a meeting of Congress MPs. The opposition is adamant on demanding the resignation of the Education Minister, while the government wants an unconditional discussion. Due to the uproar, both the houses were adjourned.
New Delhi [भारत]July 23 (ANI): Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has called a meeting of Congress MPs of both the Houses at his residence on Thursday evening. Party sources gave this information.
The meeting is taking place amid the impasse in Parliament over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, where the opposition has introduced the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha as a condition for the discussion. The Center has said that it is ready to discuss the NEET controversy and related matters and has asked the opposition not to put any conditions. Rule 267 allows an MP to demand adjournment of business in the Upper House of Parliament.
heated argument in parliament
Rajya Sabha had a stormy start on Thursday following heavy sloganeering and protests by opposition members. The House witnessed a heated exchange between the government and opposition benches, with both sides unwilling to back down from their stand on the paper leak controversy.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the government is fully ready to discuss the NEET issue and the opposition is deliberately stalling the process by imposing pre-conditions. He said, “All parties have demanded that there be a discussion on NEET. Today, the entire NDA party has again demanded that there be a discussion on NEET. I felt that after meeting Kharge ji and some other opposition leaders yesterday, we had some hope that the discussion could happen today. The Congress party imposed a condition. We requested that we decide among ourselves how and for how long the discussion will go on, but do not impose conditions. Your intention to impose conditions is not right because you are trying to stop the discussion. We are again requesting that there should be a thorough discussion on NEET exam in both the Houses without any politicization.”
Rijiju also praised Prime Minister Modi’s announcement of fast-track courts for paper leaks, which drew rebuke from Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. He described the Prime Minister’s remarks as “provocative” and accused the government of failing to take accountability for the paper leak. Kharge said, “Today the Prime Minister has given a statement. It is a provocative statement. The Education Minister should resign; only then will we be ready for discussion.”
PM Modi’s big announcement on paper leak
Amid growing protests against the Center over the NEET paper leak, PM Modi announced that fast-track courts will be set up to ensure swift and stringent punishment to those involved in the paper leak. In a post on Twitter, PM Modi said those playing with the future of the youth “will not be spared”, and said the authorities concerned have been instructed to take all necessary measures.
There was a direct confrontation between NDA and India Bloc MPs at Makar Dwar inside the Parliament complex on Thursday, as both the parties protested together on different issues. Both the houses have been adjourned for the day. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianetnews Editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)