Lok Sabha Adjourned Till Monday as NEET Deadlock Continues

New Delhi, Jul 24: Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the fifth consecutive day on Friday amid continued protests by opposition parties demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issue, while the government maintained that refusing to debate the matter would send a wrong message to the country.

When the House reconvened at noon after an earlier adjournment, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government was ready for a discussion and had repeatedly appealed to the opposition to allow a debate. He urged Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to persuade Congress members to participate, saying imposing preconditions before a discussion was inappropriate.

Rijiju said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured strict action against those involved in paper leaks, including a stringent law and fast-track trials. He added that the Union Cabinet was expected to take up the proposed legislation on Friday. He also noted that activist Sonam Wangchuk had ended his hunger strike.

The Congress and other opposition parties, however, remained firm on their demand for Pradhan’s resignation, raising slogans of “Istifa Do” inside the House.

Rahul Gandhi sought to speak during the proceedings, but Presiding Officer Jagdambika Pal said he would be given an opportunity after parliamentary papers were tabled. However, the House was adjourned for the day before he could address members.

Earlier, Speaker Om Birla paid tributes to the armed forces ahead of the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas and urged members not to disrupt Question Hour, stressing its importance in holding the government accountable. The Question Hour has remained disrupted on all five sitting days of the Monsoon Session, which concludes on August 13. (Agencies)