Rajya Sabha adjourned over NEET-UG paper leak protest, police action row
Synopsis
Parliament's Upper House ground to a halt twice on Tuesday as opposition leaders, led by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, demanded answers on the NEET-UG paper leak and condemned a police lathi charge on student protesters at Jantar Mantar. With lakhs of medical aspirants in limbo and no government statement forthcoming on the floor, the monsoon session is fast becoming a referendum on examination accountability.
Key Takeaways
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice on 21 July — first to noon, then till 2 pm — over the NEET-UG paper leak row.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge condemned a lathi charge and tear gas shelling on student protesters at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi .
Protesters were part of a Cockroach Janta Party -led march to Parliament demanding justice over the NEET-UG question paper leak.
Radhakrishnan made repeated appeals for decorum but could not prevent the adjournments.
Opposition parties are demanding an independent investigation, accountability, and immediate relief for lakhs of affected students .
Key legislative business in the Upper House has been brought to a standstill by the continuing disruptions.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice on Tuesday, 21 July as opposition members mounted fierce protests over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and alleged police excesses against student demonstrators at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, bringing parliamentary business to a near-standstill. The Upper House, which had reconvened at noon, was swiftly adjourned again till 2 pm amid scenes of sustained chaos.
How the Disruption Unfolded
Trouble began moments after official papers were laid on the table. Leader of Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge rose to condemn what he described as police excesses during Monday's student march to Parliament, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party. Kharge alleged that protesters demanding accountability over the NEET-UG medical entrance examination paper leak were subjected to a lathi charge and tear gas shelling, with several ending up in hospital.
'Our students, who are raising their voice on paper leaks and NEET examination, were attacked with lathi charge and tear gas shelling. They are in hospitals. Their issues need to be heard,' Kharge said.
His remarks triggered loud sloganeering from opposition benches, plunging the House into complete din. Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan made repeated appeals for decorum, but opposition members remained unrelenting, forcing successive adjournments.
Opposition's Core Demands
Opposition parties, led by the Indian National Congress (INC), are pressing the government for a thorough, independent investigation into the paper leak, clear accountability at every level of the examination administration chain, and immediate relief for the lakhs of students whose medical careers have been thrown into uncertainty. Congress has alleged that affected students' futures hang in the balance pending a credible resolution.
What the Disruptions Mean for Parliament
The back-to-back adjournments have effectively paralysed key legislative business in the Upper House. This comes amid a broader political storm over the NEET-UG 2024 controversy, which has already drawn scrutiny from the Supreme Court and triggered nationwide student agitations. Notably, the disruptions in the Rajya Sabha mirror similar scenes in the Lok Sabha, where opposition members have also raised the issue repeatedly this session.
Government's Position
The treasury benches have sought to advance scheduled legislative business, maintaining that appropriate action is being taken through established channels. However, the government has yet to make a detailed statement on the floor addressing the specific allegations of police action against student protesters at Jantar Mantar.
What Comes Next
With the opposition showing no signs of relenting and student protests continuing outside Parliament, the remainder of the monsoon session faces significant disruption risk. Whether the government agrees to a structured debate or a special statement on the NEET-UG crisis will likely determine whether proceedings can resume in any meaningful form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Rajya Sabha adjourned on 21 July 2024?
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice on 21 July due to fierce opposition protests over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and alleged police action against student demonstrators at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The House could not conduct business amid sustained sloganeering and disruptions from opposition benches.
What did Mallikarjun Kharge say in the Rajya Sabha?
Congress president and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the lathi charge and tear gas shelling on students who were protesting the NEET-UG paper leak. He said the affected students are in hospitals and that their concerns must be heard by the government.
What are the opposition's demands over the NEET-UG paper leak?
Opposition parties, led by Congress, are demanding a thorough independent investigation into the NEET-UG paper leak, accountability at every level of the examination system, and immediate relief for the lakhs of students whose futures have been affected by the controversy.
Who organised the student march to Parliament over NEET?
The march to Parliament on Monday was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party. Protesters were demanding justice over the leakage of NEET-UG medical entrance examination question papers when they were allegedly subjected to a lathi charge and tear gas by police at Jantar Mantar.
How has the NEET-UG controversy affected the Parliament session?
The NEET-UG paper leak row has caused repeated disruptions in both Houses during the monsoon session, with key legislative business brought to a standstill. The Rajya Sabha has seen successive adjournments as the opposition refuses to allow proceedings until the government addresses the crisis on the floor.
