NEET Paper Leak, Ayodhya Rows Stall Parliament

New Delhi: Opposition protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination and alleged embezzlement of Ram temple donations stalled proceedings in both Houses of Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon Session on Monday.

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned multiple times and eventually for the day, with little business transacted.

The disruptions came despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for cooperation ahead of the session. Speaking to the media, he expressed hope that the session would be productive.

In the Lok Sabha, Opposition members raised slogans as soon as proceedings began at 11 am, prompting Speaker Om Birla to adjourn the House during Question Hour. He objected to sloganeering during obituary references to six former MPs, calling it inappropriate.

Protests continued when the House reconvened at noon, leading to further adjournments. Amid the disruptions, law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced a Bill to replace an Ordinance increasing the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India.

Repeated appeals by the Chair to conduct Zero Hour proceedings went unheeded. BJP MP Dilip Saikia, presiding at the time, adjourned the House in stages as members displayed placards and raised slogans.

“You are disrupting the House and displaying banners, which is not acceptable,” Saikia said.

When the House reassembled at 2 pm, presiding officer Jagdambika Pal said there was adequate quorum. Some Opposition members alleged that MPs were being prevented from entering.

Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the House could not function amid continued disruptions. Appeals to proceed with matters under Rule 377 failed, and the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day around 3 pm after six adjournments.

The Rajya Sabha witnessed similar disruptions, with Opposition members demanding action over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and raising slogans over the Ram temple issue.

After papers were tabled, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge raised the NEET-UG issue, calling it a matter affecting students.

“Thousands of students have reached Jantar Mantar, and they were lathi-charged,” Kharge said. “The government is trying to beat them down and suppress the issue.”

Sloganeering by Opposition members led to repeated adjournments by Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan, who earlier announced Kharge’s reappointment as Leader of the Opposition.

The House was adjourned six times during the day. Deputy Chairman Harivansh later informed members that time had been allocated for government business by the Business Advisory Committee, but appeals for order went unheeded.

With protests continuing, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day.

Both Houses will reconvene at 11 am on Tuesday.