The proceedings of the Parliament session on Monday began amid a stir over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak issue.
Amid the ongoing proceedings of the Parliament session, opposition members on Monday demanded a separate one-day discussion on the NEET-UG paper leak issue in the Lok Sabha and staged a walkout after seeking a clear assurance from the government on the issue.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of irregularities in NEET soon after the Lok Sabha met in the day, prompting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to say that a separate discussion cannot be held till the House is over with the motion of thanks on the President’s address, news agency PTI reported.
“We wanted a one-day debate on NEET. It is an important issue. More than two million students have been affected. Document leaks have occurred on 70 occasions. We would be happy if you would allow a separate debate on the issue.” Rahul Gandhi said, as reported by PTI.
Singh, the Deputy Leader of the Lok Sabha, said the House has certain rules and procedures and also healthy traditions, which are a strength of this House.
“In my decades as an MP, no other issue has ever been raised during the motion of thanks in the President’s address. Other issues can be raised after passing the motion of thanks,” Rajnath Singh said, PTI reported.
Taking advantage of his comments, Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders insisted that the House discuss the issue after the debate on the motion of thanks and sought a specific assurance from the government, PTI reported.
“We can send a message from Parliament to the students that the NEET subject is crucial for us,” Gandhi said, PTI reported.
Speaker Om Birla said there was no convention of taking up any other discussion during the debate on the motion of thanks. Members can submit a separate notice for discussion on NEET, PTI reported.
The opposition members were standing when the speaker called on BJP member Anurag Thakur to start the debate on the Motion of Thanks for the President’s Address.
Opposition members continued to insist that the government give them categorical assurances to hold a separate debate on NEETs and staged a strike.
(With input from PTI)
