Parliament adjourned as opposition demands Pradhan's resignation before NEET debate

New Delhi: Both Houses of Parliament were disrupted for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday as opposition protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan led to repeated disruptions and adjournments.

The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were eventually adjourned for the day, while the ruling alliance accused the Opposition of deliberately avoiding a debate on the issue.

When the Rajya Sabha reassembled at 3 pm after multiple adjournments, Deputy Chairman Harivansh allowed Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to speak in an attempt to break the deadlock.

Kharge began reading from a prepared text, saying the opposition was ready to face any challenge in the interest of the nation. However, Harivansh stopped him from continuing, stating that he had allowed the LoP to speak only to facilitate a discussion on the NEET paper leak issue, for which the government had already expressed its willingness.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju reiterated that the government was prepared for a detailed discussion on the controversy but alleged that the Opposition was interested only in disrupting proceedings.

Earlier in the day, when the Rajya Sabha met in the morning, Kharge insisted that Pradhan must resign before any debate on the issue could begin. As members of the treasury and opposition benches traded slogans—with the ruling alliance demanding a discussion and the opposition pressing for the minister's resignation—Chairman C P Radhakrishnan adjourned the House till 2 pm. When it reconvened, the stalemate continued, prompting another adjournment till 3 pm, before the House was eventually adjourned for the day.

Rijiju said all parties, including those in the NDA, had sought a discussion on the alleged NEET question paper leak. He said meetings with Kharge and other Opposition leaders had raised hopes of a debate on Thursday, but accused the Congress of imposing fresh conditions.
"The duration and other contours of the debate can be decided, but there should be no conditions attached. Putting conditions gives rise to suspicion that you want to stall the discussion," he said, urging the Opposition not to politicise the issue.

In the Lok Sabha, Rijiju reiterated that the government was willing to debate the issue and accused the Opposition of "trying to run away" from the discussion by attaching preconditions.

He said the government was ready to present its side on the alleged paper leak and that Opposition members could speak for as long as they wanted, even if the debate lasted two days.
"The Opposition can decide the date and duration of the discussion in both Houses. We have approached the Congress and other Opposition parties for the debate," Rijiju said after the House reconvened at noon.

As the Lok Sabha met at 2 pm after two adjournments, opposition members started raising slogans.

Dileep Saikia, who was in the Chair, urged the protesting members to maintain the decorum of the House and said that disrupting the proceedings was not correct. Rijiju accused the opposition of attaching pre-conditions and trying to run away from a debate on the NEET paper leak issue.

Earlier, during Question Hour, Speaker Om Birla appealed to members to allow the House to function, saying Question Hour was the most important part of the day's proceedings.
"After the Question Hour, the House is ready to discuss every issue. I will speak to the government, and the government is also ready for discussions. I appeal to all members to participate in the discussion after the Question Hour," Birla said.

Amid the repeated disruptions, senior Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, met Birla to press for a discussion on the NEET paper leak. Trinamool Congress MPs Saugata Roy and Mahua Moitra were also present at the meeting.

Thursday marked the fourth consecutive day of disruptions in Parliament since the Monsoon Session began on Monday. The Opposition has also accused the government of using batons and tear gas against students protesting the alleged NEET paper leak earlier this week. Opposition MPs have staged demonstrations inside Parliament, demanding Pradhan's resignation over the handling of the controversy.

The protests began last month after allegations that the medical entrance examination paper had been leaked, affecting around 2 million candidates across the country.