Parliament remained deadlocked for the third consecutive day of the Monsoon Session on Wednesday over the NEET-UG paper leak issue despite the BJP-led government expressing its willingness to hold a discussion in the two Houses—the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
A day after the Congress leadership staged an unprecedented flash protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence and the Cockroach Janata Party-led protests intensified, the government informed the Lok Sabha that it was prepared for a detailed discussion on the NEET paper leak and urged Speaker Om Birla to convene an all-party meeting to decide the rule, date and duration of the debate. However, repeated adjournments disrupted proceedings in both Houses, with the Opposition remaining firm on its demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
When the Lok Sabha reassembled at noon after an earlier adjournment, Speaker Om Birla invited Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to make a statement. Congress leader KC Venugopal intervened, reiterating the Opposition’s demand for Pradhan’s resignation. He said the minister should take “moral and constitutional responsibility” for the controversy.
Venugopal also alleged that despite the seriousness of the paper leak cases, no significant arrests or criminal action was taken against those responsible, including coaching syndicates, officials and other accused.
In the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition sought to invoke Rule 267 to suspend scheduled business and take up an immediate discussion on the NEET controversy and the alleged police action against student protesters. The notice also called for a debate on the detention of Opposition leaders during protests in the national capital. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge also said that Pradhan must resign before any fair discussion could take place.
With the Opposition insisting on discussions under motions such as an Adjournment Motion or Rule 267, which allow voting and can amount to censure of the government, the impasse is unlikely to end soon. Normally the Government favours a short-duration discussion under Rule 193, which permits a ministerial reply but does not involve voting.
According to sources, Pradhan had met the Speaker in Parliament soon after the Government reiterated its readiness for a detailed discussion and requested an all-party meeting to resolve procedural issues.
Home Minister Amit Shah had personally taken charge of the situation, sources said. As the BJP faced a major street protest for the first time in its 12-year rule, Shah also convened a meeting of ministers to discuss the way forward today but the government gave no signs of Pradhan resigning.
Rather, Pradhan was fielded to make a public post on Tuesday night where he attacked Rahul Gandhi for the sit-in outside PM’s residence.
Addressing the media, Rijiju accused the Congress of shifting the goalposts by adding fresh conditions after initially demanding a discussion.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused the Opposition of trying to settle issues on the streets instead of in Parliament. Asserting that the Government was sensitive to the concerns of students and youth, he urged the Opposition to allow Parliament to function and raise all issues during the session.
Singh accused Opposition leaders of “using students for political purposes,” and reiterated the Government’s commitment to ensuring justice for students.
Speaking to the media, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj defended the government’s handling of the CJP/NEET protests, saying it responded with sensitivity, engaged with demonstrators through Union Minister J.P. Nadda, allowed peaceful protests, swiftly transferred the alleged paper leak investigation to the CBI, and sought strict punishment for those responsible.