Rijiju warns Congress: Disrupting Parliament over NEET will backfire
Synopsis
With a paper leak Bill days away from introduction, Rijiju has turned the Opposition’s disruption tactics into a political liability argument — warning Congress that blocking a student-welfare measure will cost it with India’s youth. The government is betting that the optics of obstruction hurt the Opposition more than the NEET controversy hurts the ruling side.
Key Takeaways
Kiren Rijiju warned on 24 July that Congress will “fall into a trap” if Parliament disruptions continue.
The Centre is set to introduce a paper leak Bill with harsher punishments as early as Monday .
The first week of the Monsoon Session was largely disrupted over the NEET exam paper leak row.
The Opposition demanded Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation before allowing any discussion.
Rahul Gandhi claimed his microphone was switched off in the House; the government has not responded publicly.
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on 24 July warned the Indian National Congress (INC) that it will “fall into a trap” if the Opposition persists in disrupting Parliamentary proceedings, even as the Centre prepares to introduce a Bill next week prescribing harsher punishments for paper leak offences. The warning came after the first week of the Monsoon Session was largely lost to Opposition disruptions linked to the NEET exam paper leak controversy.
What Rijiju Said
Speaking to reporters inside the Parliament complex, Rijiju said the government had repeatedly appealed to the Opposition to allow a discussion on the NEET issue. “We could not discuss the NEET exam paper leak in Parliament. Even today, we appealed once again… Rahul Gandhi himself was present in the House, and we urged him to allow the discussion to begin immediately. The Congress party has now shown that it is actually not interested in a discussion,” he said.
Rijiju also urged restraint. “I think that now there is no use of politicising this issue, instead we should work towards taking major steps and ensuring a proper system for strengthening the future of the students. That has to be our priority,” he added.
The Opposition’s Stand
The Congress-led Opposition had conditioned any House discussion on the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a demand the government has refused to entertain. Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi separately claimed on Friday that his microphone was “switched off” in the House and that he was denied the opportunity to speak — an allegation the government has not publicly addressed.
The Proposed Paper Leak Bill
Rijiju confirmed the government is preparing a Bill for introduction as early as Monday, targeting exam malpractices with stricter penal provisions. “The Prime Minister has said that there should be no delay in the Bill that we are bringing for the students,” he said. The move follows sustained public pressure after the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak triggered nationwide student protests and calls for systemic reform in competitive examination conduct.
Rijiju’s Warning to Congress
In direct terms, Rijiju put the political cost of continued disruption squarely on the Opposition. “Congress will fall into a trap if they continue to disrupt the Parliamentary proceedings. We are taking important steps for the future of the students. If the Congress party continues to create all kinds of hurdles to prevent Parliamentary discussion, then they will have to face the brunt of the youth of this nation and, in fact, the entire nation,” he said.
What Comes Next
With the paper leak Bill expected to be tabled early next week, the government appears to be framing the Opposition’s disruptions as an obstacle to student welfare — a politically sensitive positioning ahead of the Bill’s introduction. Whether the Congress adjusts its strategy or continues to press for Pradhan’s resignation will determine how the second week of the Monsoon Session unfolds.
Point of View
The government converts the Opposition’s disruption from a pressure tactic into a political own-goal. The Congress faces a genuine dilemma — backing down on Pradhan’s resignation demand looks like a climbdown, but sustaining the disruption while a student-welfare Bill waits for debate hands the BJP a ready-made campaign line. What mainstream coverage underplays is that both sides are performing for an audience beyond Parliament: the millions of students and families affected by NEET, whose anger is not yet aligned with either party’s preferred narrative.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Kiren Rijiju say about Congress and Parliament disruptions?
Rijiju warned that Congress will ‘fall into a trap’ if it continues disrupting Parliamentary proceedings over the NEET paper leak issue. He urged Opposition members, including Rahul Gandhi, to allow discussions to proceed rather than stalling the House.
What is the paper leak Bill the government plans to introduce?
The Centre is preparing a Bill, expected to be tabled as early as Monday, that prescribes stricter punishments for exam paper leak offences. Prime Minister Modi has reportedly directed that there be no delay in its introduction.
Why has the Opposition been disrupting Parliament during the Monsoon Session?
The Congress-led Opposition has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak, and has conditioned any House discussion on that demand being met.
What did Rahul Gandhi allege in Parliament?
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi claimed his microphone was switched off in the House on Friday and that he was not given an opportunity to speak. The government has not publicly addressed the allegation.
What are the stakes for both sides in this standoff?
The government is framing the Opposition’s disruptions as an obstacle to student welfare, while Congress is using the NEET controversy to press for ministerial accountability. The outcome of the second week of the Monsoon Session will depend on whether either side adjusts its position before the Bill comes up for introduction.
