The day began with a contentious start as Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, immediately raised concerns about NEET irregularities and the paper leak as the session commenced.
Digital Desk: Opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha staged a walkout on Monday after pressing for a separate one-day discussion on the NEET paper leak issue and seeking a clear commitment from the government regarding the matter.
The day began with a contentious start as Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, immediately raised concerns about NEET irregularities and the paper leak as the session commenced. Alongside fellow opposition MPs, he called for a dedicated discussion on the topic. This request prompted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to emphasize that such a discussion could only take place after completing the motion of thanks on the President’s address.
"We proposed a one-day debate on NEET, a crucial issue affecting over two crore students. There have been 70 instances of paper leaks. We urge you to allow a focused discussion," Gandhi stated, underlining the urgency of addressing the issue.
Singh reiterated the House's procedural norms and traditions, asserting that discussions on other matters should follow the completion of scheduled business. Despite these explanations, Gandhi and other opposition leaders persisted in seeking firm assurance from the government and insisted on discussing NEET immediately after the motion of thanks.
Speaker Om Birla clarified that there was no precedent for discussing other issues during the motion of thanks debate, suggesting that separate notices could be given for a NEET discussion. As BJP member Anurag Thakur began the motion of thanks debate, opposition members, unsatisfied with the response, walked out of the session in protest.
In another development, the NIA agreed on Monday to allow Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, to take oath as an MP on July 25. Rashid, who won the Lok Sabha election from Baramulla while in detention, had sought interim relief to attend the oath-taking ceremony. The NIA's consent was subject to certain conditions, including restrictions on media interactions, and a final decision on the matter is expected from Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh on Tuesday.
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