Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the government is ready to discuss the NEET paper leak, but the opposition is avoiding the debate by imposing conditions. At the same time, the opposition created a ruckus in the Rajya Sabha demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Government ready to discuss NEET: Rijiju
New Delhi [भारत]July 22 (ANI): Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said the government is ready to discuss the NEET exam paper leak and related matters, but the opposition is finding excuses and imposing conditions to avoid the debate.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing monsoon session, Rijiju said that the government has been saying since the beginning of the session that it is ready to discuss all important issues, including the NEET exam paper leak.
“If you are looking for excuses not to discuss, it is not right,” Rijiju said, adding that the government is “100 per cent ready” to discuss the issue.
He said, “I want to present the government’s side in the House. From the first day of the monsoon session, the government has been saying that we are ready to discuss all important issues. We are ready to discuss the NEET exam paper leak from the very beginning. We are still ready.”
Rijiju said the government has conveyed its willingness to discuss the issue to Congress leaders as well as leaders of other parties. He said, “We have told this to Congress leaders as well as leaders of other parties that the government is ready for discussion, but how to hold the discussion will have to be decided by a meeting of all under the chairmanship of the Speaker.”
Opposition adamant on Pradhan’s resignation
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister further said that if the opposition is “looking for excuses for not discussing and imposing conditions”, it is not right. Rijiju said, “Our government is ready to discuss the NEET exam and related matters for the future of the youth. It is our responsibility to tell the country what steps the government has taken.”
Rijiju’s comments come after another uproar in the Rajya Sabha on the third day of the monsoon session on Wednesday, as Congress President and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge staged a vigorous protest demanding the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Leading the united opposition front, Kharge insisted that no debate or discussion would be allowed on the floor of the House until the education minister stepped down from the post. He cited alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examinations and the subsequent police action against students protesting at Jantar Mantar.
During the heated proceedings, Kharge said, “For a fair discussion on NEET, there will be no debate until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.”
Amidst the uproar, the proceedings of Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 3 pm. (ANI)
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