Lok Sabha adjourns for the day amid uproar over NEET, oppn to raise exam row on Monday

Digital Desk: The Lok Sabha witnessed a rough session on Friday as opposition parties pushed for a discussion on alleged irregularities in the NEET medical entrance exam, leading to the adjournment of proceedings for the day. The uproar began when the House reconvened at noon, with opposition members persistently demanding a discussion on NEET-related issues.

Speaker Om Birla and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju suggested that the matter could be discussed during the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address. Birla emphasized the need to follow parliamentary norms, which was met with opposition claims that students were unaware of such procedural details and were only seeking justice.

As members from Congress, TMC, and DMK parties protested by storming the Well of the House, Rijiju remarked that it was unprecedented for the opposition to demand a discussion on an issue before the scheduled proceedings. Despite assurances from Rijiju that all issues would be addressed during the Motion of Thanks debate, sloganeering continued, prompting Birla to assert the House's function to discuss rather than disrupt.

"There is a difference between protest on the road and protest inside the House… You (Opposition) don’t want House to run? You don’t want to discuss NEET during the Motion of Thanks discussion?" Birla questioned amid the chaos, eventually adjourning the proceedings until Monday.

Earlier in the morning, opposition members sought to suspend regular business and immediately discuss NEET through an adjournment motion, which was deferred by Birla to first conduct obituary references for 13 former members, including Manohar Joshi.

The adjournment highlighted the intensity of the NEET controversy and the opposition’s insistence on addressing the issue promptly in Parliament. As tensions continue, the fate of the NEET discussion and its implications for future proceedings remain at the forefront of parliamentary debate.