Says street protests won’t help
NEW DELHI: Amid an ongoing standoff over the NEET paper leak issue, the government on Wednesday said it is prepared for a detailed discussion in the Lok Sabha, even as the Opposition intensified its demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
The issue dominated proceedings in the Lower House as soon as it reassembled at noon following an earlier adjournment. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to make a statement, but Congress leader K C Venugopal intervened to reiterate the Opposition’s demand for Pradhan’s resignation.
“Our demand is simple. When the entire nation is feeling the pain of our students – all other business of the House should be set aside and this burning issue should be top priority for Parliament,” Venugopal said.
Responding to the Opposition’s demand for a discussion, Rijiju said the government is willing to debate the NEET paper leak issue in detail. He said the Speaker would hold consultations with floor leaders of political parties to decide the rule under which the discussion would take place, along with its date and duration.
Later, speaking to reporters, Rijiju said the government was ready for a “detailed” discussion” so that people could know the steps taken by the Centre to address the controversy. He accused the Opposition of preferring protests over parliamentary debate and stressed that issues concerning the country’s youth deserved discussion inside Parliament.
He also asserted that street protests would not yield results.
Addressing the House, Speaker Om Birla said he had heard the views of all sides and noted the government’s willingness to discuss the issue with an open mind. He urged Opposition members to participate in a detailed debate instead of entering the Well of the House and disrupting proceedings.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed displeasure that while BJP and Congress members were allowed to speak, he was not given an opportunity.
He maintained that when the interests of youth and students are affected, the Opposition is justified in taking the protest to the streets as well.
Amid continued sloganeering by Opposition members, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm.
Congress and Samajwadi Party MPs wore black clothes in the House to protest both the alleged NEET paper leak and the police crackdown on demonstrators at Jantar Mantar and other parts of Delhi.
Separately, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in Parliament House.
The Opposition has been demanding a discussion on the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and continues to seek Pradhan’s resignation over the Centre’s handling of the controversy.
PTI