Parliament – Monsoon Session Stalls for Fourth Straight Day Over NEET Row
Parliament – The Monsoon Session of Parliament remained at a standstill for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday as persistent protests over the NEET paper leak issue prevented normal proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Despite the government’s repeated offer to hold an immediate discussion, the Opposition continued to insist that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign before any debate takes place, leading to another day of adjournments.
Opposition and Government Remain Firm on Their Positions
The political deadlock showed no signs of easing as lawmakers from both the ruling alliance and the Opposition staged demonstrations outside Parliament before the session began. Members from both sides raised slogans and accused each other of avoiding accountability, setting the tone for another disrupted day inside the House.
The Opposition maintained that a meaningful discussion on the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination could only begin after the Education Minister stepped down. On the other hand, the government argued that it was prepared to debate the matter immediately without attaching any conditions.
Repeated Interruptions in Lok Sabha
Proceedings in the Lok Sabha were interrupted several times as Opposition members raised slogans and displayed placards demanding the minister’s resignation. The disruptions prevented the House from carrying out its scheduled business, resulting in multiple adjournments.
During Question Hour, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urged members to allow Parliament to function. He emphasized that Question Hour plays a vital role in the parliamentary process and appealed to members to participate in discussions after its completion. Birla also assured the House that the government was willing to discuss every issue and said he would facilitate talks between both sides.
Opposition Leaders Meet Speaker
Later in the day, senior Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, met Speaker Om Birla to press their demand for a debate on the NEET paper leak controversy. Leaders from the Trinamool Congress, including Saugata Roy and Mahua Moitra, were also part of the meeting.
The meeting came as Opposition parties continued to seek assurances that their demand regarding the Education Minister would be addressed before discussions begin.
Government Invites Extended Debate
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Opposition of creating unnecessary conditions instead of participating in a discussion. He said the government was fully prepared to present its position on the issue and had already conveyed its willingness to hold a detailed debate.
Rijiju stated that Opposition members could speak for as long as required and even suggested that discussions could continue for two days if necessary. He also said the government was open to allowing the Opposition to decide the timing and duration of the debate in both Houses, adding that outreach had already been made to Congress and other Opposition parties.
Rajya Sabha Also Faces Deadlock
The Rajya Sabha witnessed a similar situation, with repeated disruptions forcing several adjournments before the House was eventually suspended until Friday.
Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated that his party would not participate in any discussion unless Dharmendra Pradhan resigned. He also alleged that several students had been injured during a police lathicharge linked to protests over the NEET issue, claiming that the incident had caused significant distress among affected families.
Leader of the House JP Nadda rejected the Opposition’s allegations and accused them of deliberately preventing Parliament from functioning. He said the government had already agreed to discuss the NEET paper leak and other related matters, but the Opposition was refusing to cooperate.
Deputy Chairman Harivansh appealed to members to restore order and allow legislative business to continue, stressing that important bills were pending for discussion. However, continued protests forced another adjournment, extending the parliamentary impasse into its fourth consecutive day.