On Friday, the Opposition INDIA bloc protested in both houses of Parliament, expressing concerns over the NEET exam paper leak. Congress leaders claimed that Rahul Gandhi’s microphone was turned off when he tried to raise the issue and demanded a discussion.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan responded by urging opposition MPs not to create confusion among students. He stressed that the government is ready for discussions but emphasized the need to maintain parliamentary tradition and decorum.
“We will not spare anyone responsible. Officials in charge of the NTA have been removed, and senior officials have taken over. This demonstrates the government’s commitment,” Pradhan said. He appealed to the opposition to avoid causing confusion among students.
Speaker Om Birla insisted that the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address should be taken up first. However, the Lok Sabha was adjourned until Monday, July 1, without a debate on the NEET issue.
Some Congress leaders alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s mic was switched off while he was speaking about NEET in Parliament. Congress MP Manickam Tagore accused the BJP of planning to avoid a discussion on NEET and the NTA’s failures. Deepender Singh Hooda, another Congress parliamentarian, said, “The NEET paper was leaked, and the Union Education Minister is avoiding responsibility. When we raised the issue in the House, Rahul Gandhi’s microphone was switched off.”
Hooda added, “If the Leader of the Opposition’s mic is switched off, other opposition MPs will be angry, and that’s what happened in the House. We demand a discussion on this issue.” Congress MP Manish Tewari called it “unfortunate” that no discussion on NEET could take place. He highlighted two main issues: the NEET paper leak affecting many students and the implementation of new criminal laws on July 1, 2024.
Tewari mentioned that the INDIA Alliance partners had given an adjournment motion notice about NEET, and he had specifically requested a stop to the implementation of the new criminal laws. Unfortunately, no discussion happened.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reiterated that the government is ready for any discussion but insisted that it should happen within tradition and decorum. “When the President herself mentioned the exam in her speech, it shows the government’s intention to address the issue,” Pradhan said.
