New Delhi, July 22 (IANS) The Rajya Sabha was once again thrown into turmoil on Wednesday as the Opposition continued to press for a discussion on the NEET paper leak issue. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, saying his exit was necessary for any meaningful and fair discussion to take place in Parliament.
The trouble escalated when Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh took up notices submitted under Rule 267.
He cautioned members that the rule should be invoked only on the “rarest of the rare” occasions.
DMK MP Tiruchi Siva countered that the current situation in the country regarding the NEET controversy itself constituted a “rare occasion”.
Unable to restore order, the Deputy Chairman adjourned the House till 3 p.m.
Earlier, when the House reassembled at 2 p.m., Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju strongly criticised the Opposition’s tactics. He reiterated that the government had been ready from the very beginning to discuss the NEET paper leak or any other issue in Parliament.
Rijiju questioned why the Opposition was repeatedly disrupting proceedings through sloganeering instead of allowing structured debate.
Leader of the House and BJP President J.P. Nadda also intervened, asserting that the government was prepared to debate any issue, including the NEET irregularities.
He accused the Opposition of disrespecting the dignity of the House through their continuous protests and disruptions.
The repeated adjournments and heated exchanges highlighted the deepening deadlock between the ruling alliance and the Opposition over the NEET paper leak scandal.
The issue has snowballed into a major political confrontation, with students across the country protesting alleged irregularities in the medical entrance examination.
The Opposition has been unrelenting in its demand for a comprehensive discussion, accountability and resignation of the education minister, while the government maintains it is open to debate but insists on following parliamentary rules and procedures.
With the monsoon session already marred by frequent disruptions, the continued impasse over NEET is likely to further delay important legislative business in the coming days.
–IANS
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