New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI): The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Wednesday after heated exchanges between the government and the Opposition over the NEET paper leak issue.
The House witnessed multiple adjournments for the third consecutive day as Opposition parties led by the Congress disrupted proceedings, protesting against Monday’s police action on students demonstrating over the alleged NEET examination paper leak.
The government on Wednesday agreed to discuss the issue in Parliament, but the Opposition wanted the discussion to be held under Rule 267, and also laid down the condition of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation before such a debate is taken up.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress party of not allowing a discussion by adding new conditions for taking up the matter in the House.
Soon after the Upper House met at 3 pm following multiple adjournments during the day, DMK member Tiruchi Siva appealed to Deputy Chairman Harivansh to allow a discussion on the NEET paper leak issue under Rule 267, citing the current situation as “rarest of rare”.
“We all have given a 267 notice with regard to the ongoing student’s strike with regard to the NEET examination and you quoted the precedence that 267 has not been taken up for the past many years, but you also mentioned that on the rarest of rare occasions it could be. We say that this is it because one that Sonam (Wangchuk) is fasting for many days, he is being hospitalised, his life is at stake. Already 95 students have committed suicide and students strike is also going on and the government also gave an assurance,” Siva said while addressing the Chair.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge also made a similar appeal, while Deputy Chairman Harivansh responded, saying that Rajya Sabha Chairman has already made his position clear on the issue.
Harivansh appealed to the members to reach a consensus and take forward the discussion.
“From Chair, I appeal to all of you senior people to find out a solution and begin a discussion on this issue,” the deputy chairman said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rijiju accused the Congress of putting conditions to not allow a discussion. He said the government is ready to discuss all issues, but the Chairman will decide under which rule a debate can happen.
“I want to tell the Congress party through you (the Chair), that you (Congress) are giving the wrong message outside that you want a discussion. When the government is itself saying that it wants a discussion, they (Congress) are imposing conditions to not allow a discussion to take place by again and again coming up with excuses.”
“They should not do this. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge is a senior leader …He said that a discussion should take place. But later the Congress party again came up with a condition. This is not right. Therefore, you (Opposition) have requested, the Chair must decide. The government is fully ready for a discussion,” he added.
Addressing the Chair, Kharge said, “I want to thank you as in your speech, you have made it clear that 267 is considered in the rarest of rare case. What can be rarest than this?”
Responding to Kharge, Harivansh said the Rajya Sabha Chairman has made his position clear on the issue several times, and he has repeated the same.
Amid the uproar, Harivansh adjourned the Upper House for the day.
Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha enables a member, with the Chairman’s consent, to seek suspension of a listed business of the House to take up a matter of urgent public importance.
Earlier, leader of the House J P Nadda slammed the Opposition parties, saying, “INDI Alliance has irresponsible behaviour, they are destroying the dignity of Parliament.”
