'Education Minister, resign' chants rock Lok Sabha as NEET row paralyses Parliament
Parliament remained deadlocked for the fifth consecutive day on Friday as repeated disruptions over the NEET paper leak issue paralysed proceedings in both Houses. The
Parliament remained deadlocked for the fifth consecutive day on Friday as repeated disruptions over the NEET paper leak issue paralysed proceedings in both Houses. The sharpest confrontation unfolded in the Lok Sabha after it reconvened at noon, with Opposition MPs raising "resignation, resignation" slogans and demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's exit. Despite appeals by Minister Kiren Rijiju and the Chair to allow a discussion, the protests continued, forcing the House to be adjourned for the day. Read Full Story The Lok Sabha was first adjourned till 12 noon after Opposition members disrupted proceedings soon after the sitting began. Raising slogans seeking Pradhan's resignation, Opposition MPs prevented the House from functioning despite the Speaker reminding them that he had already assured a discussion on the paper leak issue under House rules. Birla said Question Hour was an important mechanism through which members hold the government accountable and urged the Opposition not to disrupt proceedings. However, the protests continued, forcing the first adjournment. When the House reconvened at noon, the stalemate persisted. Opposition MPs rushed to the Well of the House, chanting "Dharmendra Pradhan istifa do" and demanding the Education Minister's resignation, leaving the Lok Sabha unable to conduct any business.
Even after they returned to their seat, the sloganeering continued. Amid the uproar, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju appealed to the Opposition to allow a discussion on the NEET paper leak issue, saying the government had already agreed to hold a debate and had repeatedly reached out to Opposition leaders. "The government had also agreed to hold a discussion. But then a condition was imposed that prevented the discussion from taking place. We appealed to you again, yesterday as well as this morning. I have once again appealed to KC Venugopal ji because you are the principal Opposition party. As far as the rest of the MPs are concerned, we all share the same view, that there should be a discussion," Rijiju said. Calling the issue one of national importance, the minister said avoiding a debate would send the wrong message to the country. "This concerns the examination issue. The Prime Minister has assured the country. If we now avoid holding a discussion before the nation, it will not send the right message," he said. Rijiju said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already assured the country that a stringent law would be brought to deal with examination paper leaks and that the government remained committed to fulfilling that promise.
The BriefWire