Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, once again brought the issue of alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination to the forefront in the Lok Sabha. The Raebareli MP passionately demanded an extra day for a thorough discussion on the matter.
“A message must be disseminated to the country from Parliament. We need to convey to students the importance of the NEET issue within Parliament. Therefore, we urge Parliament to engage in a detailed discussion on this pressing matter,” expressed the Congress leader.
In response, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stated, “While you may offer your suggestions, ultimately, the decision lies with me.”
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed Rahul Gandhi’s request by asserting that any discussion should be postponed until after the Motion of thanks on the President’s address.
“Parliamentary procedures are grounded in rules and traditions. I urge the Opposition to ensure that any discussion is held following the Motion of thanks on the President’s address,” Singh emphasized.
Disappointed by the Speaker’s rejection of Gandhi’s proposal for a one-day discussion on the NEET-UG controversy, Opposition Members of Parliament walked out of the Lok Sabha.
The NEET UG examination was administered by the National Testing Agency on May 5 across 4,750 centers in 571 cities nationwide and 14 cities abroad, with 23 lakh candidates taking the test. The results, declared on June 4, sparked controversy as 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks, leading to protests.
The Supreme Court intervened, ruling that the “grace marks” given to certain students should be eliminated. Affected candidates were given the choice to either retake the exam or maintain their original scores without the additional marks.
Earlier, Speaker Om Birla refuted claims by some MPs that he had silenced the mic. “It is baseless to suggest that the Speaker controls the mic; that responsibility lies elsewhere,” he clarified.
Opposition party members staged a protest on the Parliament premises, denouncing the central government’s alleged misuse of central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Protesters held up placards and signs demanding, “Respect Opposition, Stop Intimidation!”, “End the misuse of agencies to suppress opposition,” and “No more corruption in the BJP government.” Their voices echoed their concerns about the rampant misuse of agencies like ED and CBI.
Opposition parties continue to accuse the central government of misusing central agencies to stifle opposition voices. The arrests of leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Hemant Soren, and TMC Ministers have sparked widespread criticism across various sectors.
