The Lok Sabha was today adjourned for the day while the Rajya Sabha till 2 PM following opposition protest over the alleged irregularities in the NEET exam.
When the Lok Sabha assembled after the first adjournment at 12 Noon, Congress members started sloganeering demanding resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the issue. Members from Congress, DMK, TMC, Samajwadi Party and others trooped into the well. Speaker Om Birla said, a committee has been formed to look in the issue. He said, not allowing the House to function in pre-planned manner is not right for the Parliamentary democracy. He said, the members can raise the issue during the discussion on Motion of Thanks on the President’s address.
Rejecting opposition demand of discussion over NEET issue, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, there has not been tradition to allow any discussion during the period when discussion on President’s address is scheduled. He accused Congress and other opposition parties of undermining the dignity of the House. Mr. Rijiju said, the government is ready to respond to any issue to be raised during the discussion on President’s address. As ruckus prevailed, the House was adjourned for the day.
Earlier, when the House met this morning, Speaker Om Birla disallowed the adjournment notices moved by the opposition parties over the issue. Opposition parties included Congress, DMK, TMC, Samajwadi Party and others raised the issue of alleged irregularities in NEET exam and sought a discussion over it in the House. Speaker Om Birla said, during the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, other discussion cannot be allowed. He said, members of the opposition parties can raise their issues during the discussion on Motion of Thanks. He said, it is expected that the government will answer all the issues of opposition members during the discussion. Meanwhile Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said, they want to give a message to the students that this is an important issue and discussion must be held on it. As the Speaker continued with the Business of the day, members of opposition parties including Congress, DMK, TMC, Samjwadi Party and others trooped into the well. Amid pandemonium the House was adjourned till 12 Noon.
The Rajya Sabha also witnessed ruckus over the NEET issue. When the House reassembled after the first adjournment at 12 noon, the opposition parties including Congress, TMC, DMK, Aam Aadmi Party and others again started raising slogans against the government over the NEET issue. Continuing discussion over the Motion of Thanks on President’s address, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi highlighted the achievements of the government. Amid ruckus, Leader of the House JP Nadda asserted that the government is ready to listen and reply on the NEET isssue, however, opposition intentions was to disrupt the proceedings of the House. Former Prime Minister and JDS leader HD Deve Gowda also said that without the completion of enquiry, responsibility cannot be fixed. He said, the government has already ordered CBI enquiry and all should wait for the report.
Along with protesting members, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge also trooped into the well protesting over the NEET issue. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed anguish over the conduct of Mr. Kharge saying that it has happened for the first time that Leader of Opposition entered into the well. Amid pandemonium, the House was adjourned till 2 PM.
Earlier, when the Rajya Sabha met this morning, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar disallowed the adjournment notices moved by opposition MPs saying President Droupadi Murmu in her address to the joint sitting of both the houses mentioned about fair investigation and strict punishment to the culprits of paper leaks. Mr. Dhankhar said, members will have ample opportunities to discuss the issue when the House will take up discussion on motion of thanks on President’s address. Pramod Tiwari of Congress said, 25 lakh students are on street over the issue. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said, in the last seven years, 70 times papers leaks incidents happened. He demanded discussion over the issue. Following this, opposition members from Congress, SP, DMK, TMC, Left, Aam Aadmi Party, RJD and others created noisy scenes. Amid ruckus the Chairman tried to intitiate the discussion over President’s address. Protesting members came into the well on which the Chairman said, he will be forced to name the members. As the ruckus continued the House adjourned till 12 noon.
Earlier both the houses paid obituary on the recent demise of some former MPs. TMC MP Nurul Islam took oath in the Lok Sabha.
Disclaimer: This press release is sourced from News On AIR, Prasar Bharti and Press Information Bureau India (PIB).
