‘Centre ready for meaningful discussion regarding the future of youth’: Kiren Rijiju hits back at Opposition

Amid heated exchanges in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday over the issue of NEET question paper leak and the police action against protesters in the national capital, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the central government is prepared to discuss the matter.

However, Rijiju clarified that the format, duration and procedural rules governing the much-accepted debate would be decided by the Speaker after consultations with the floor leaders of all political parties.

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“The government is ready to discuss the NEET paper leak issue. However, when the discussion takes place, it happens in line with a rule. When the discussion is held, for how long and under which rule should be decided by the Speaker after meeting with all party floor leaders. The government is ready to discuss the issue, and we all want to engage in a meaningful discussion regarding the future of this country’s youth,” Rijiju said.

#WATCH | In Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says, “For three days we have been offering that the Government is absolutely ready to have a discussion on NEET paper leak issue. Since day 1 we have been saying that discussions have to be held as per rules.… pic.twitter.com/6S3zNufU9y

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2026

While raising the matter in the Lower House of the Parliament, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal reiterated the Opposition’s demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and urged the government to accept an adjournment motion to facilitate a discussion on the issue.

“Our demand is very clear: Education Minister should resign. If you accept the adjournment motion, then discuss it,” Venugopal said.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also intervened during the proceedings and stated that the matter transcended party politics and directly concerned the future of students and young people. He said every political party should be given an opportunity to express its views in the House.

“This issue is not of Congress, Samajwadi Party or the BJP; it’s about the youth of the country. You let him (Venugopal) and them (Rijiju) speak; was the problem solved? Why was I not allowed to speak? This stand is not right. This is about the youth and students, and we all are standing with them,” Yadav said.

Further, Akhilesh Yadav criticised the central government’s handling of the protests and alleged that students had been subjected to excessive force during the July 20 demonstration.

“When the students will not be heard, we will come out on the streets. The way the government has behaved with the students… their hands and heads were broken, their clothes were torn. Will you (the government) tear the clothes of our daughters?” he questioned.

He added, “We went outside the Prime Minister’s residence in desperation. If you had allowed us to speak here, we wouldn’t have gone. Can the Prime Minister not give a statement here? If he can do it outside, then why not in the House?”