Photo: PTI
New Delhi: Amidst a commotion in the House, the opposition called for a debate on the purported irregularities in the way the NEET medical entrance exam was conducted, leading to the adjournment of the Lok Sabha until Friday noon.
As soon as the House convened, members of the opposition rose to their feet, requesting that an adjournment motion be accepted so that all business could be suspended and issues pertaining to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) discussed.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said the NEET issue is a very important issue for the whole country and they want a dedicated discussion in the House on the matter. Hence, the adjournment motion should be accepted, he said.
However, Speaker Om Birla said that he could not allow it as the House was about to take up the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on Thursday.
"You can raise all matters in the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. You will get enough time. But I can't allow you to raise any other issue during the debate on the Motion of Thanks. It was already decided and mentioned in the bulletin too," he said.
With the opposition not relenting, the uproar continued and the Speaker subsequently adjourned the House till noon.
RS proceedings adjourned till 12 noon
Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till noon on Friday as opposition members created an uproar and entered the Well of the House demanding an immediate discussion on the issue of alleged irregularities in the NEET exam.
Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar did not approve of 22 notices by members from the opposition benches under a rule to suspend the listed business of the day and hold a discussion on the NEET issue.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge urged the Chairman to accept the demand for discussion. However, Dhankhar did not agree and asked BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi to initiate the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President's address.
As Trivedi started his speech, several opposition members entered the Well of the House raising slogans. They were also demanding the resignation of the union education minister.
Dhankhar asked the opposition members standing in the Well to return to their seats. He also warned that they could be named. But the opposition did not relent, leading to adjournment of the proceedings till noon.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG was conducted by the NTA on May 5 with around 24 lakh candidates taking part in it.
The results were announced on June 4, but they were followed by allegations of question paper leaks in states such as Bihar, besides other irregularities.
The Education Ministry also cancelled the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) and NEET (postgraduate) examinations after receiving inputs that the exams' "integrity may have been compromised.
Parliament should discuss NEET issue first
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a "respectful" and good discussion in Parliament on the issue of alleged irregularities in the conduct of the NEET exam as it concerns the country's youth.
The NEET issue is the most important issue of the day, and the opposition parties have agreed that it should be taken up for discussion before anything else, the Congress leader told reporters in the Parliament complex.
"This is the issue concerning the youth, and the INDIA bloc thinks this is the most important issue," he said.
"Parliament should send a message to the youth that the government and opposition are together in raising concerns of students.
I urge PM Modi to hold respectful, good discussion on NEET issue in Parliament as it concerns the country's youth," he added.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG was conducted by the NTA on May 5 with around 24 lakh candidates taking part in it.
The results were announced on June 4, but they were followed by allegations of question paper leaks in states such as Bihar, besides other irregularities.
The Education Ministry also cancelled the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) and NEET (postgraduate) examinations after receiving inputs that the exams' "integrity may have been compromised.
With PTI inputs