NEET Controversy & Student Protests Rocks Parliament As Opposition Forces Repeated Adjournments

New Delhi: On Monday, the very first day of the monsoon session of Parliament, work was repeatedly disrupted due to huge uproar in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The opposition raised loud slogans in both houses, cornering the government over the NEET controversy, police action on students' protest and other issues. The situation was such that the proceedings of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had to be postponed several times. Opposition parties protested from the Parliament complex to Jantar Mantar, while security around the Parliament building was also tightened.

On which issues did the opposition corner the government?

Before the session began, leaders of the INDI Alliance met in Parliament and made a strategy. Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were also present in the meeting. The opposition made it clear that it wants answers from the government on the NEET controversy and other major issues. Congress MPs also gave an adjournment motion to discuss these topics.

Why did tension increase outside Parliament?

Students protesting over the NEET controversy and people from various organisations were marching from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament. The police stopped them before the Parliament complex. There was a scuffle between the protesters and the police, after which tear gas shells were fired to disperse the crowd. In view of the situation, some entrances to the Parliament were temporarily closed and additional deployment of CRPF and other security forces was made in the entire area.

What steps did the government take?

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan kept a constant eye on the demonstration and security arrangements. A meeting was also held between the two leaders in the Parliament premises. During this, the education minister talked to the protesting representatives, while the union health minister J.P. The possibility of Nadda also meeting the protesters was expressed. Efforts from the government side to normalise the situation and find a solution through talks continued.

Why could the House proceedings not proceed?

Opposition MPs continued raising slogans in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. Question Hour and Zero Hour were also affected. Meanwhile, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced an amendment bill related to increasing the number of Supreme Court judges, but due to the uproar, no meaningful discussion could be held on it. The opposition said that first the issues related to students and other controversies should be discussed and only then should the legislative proceedings proceed.

What did the opposition leaders say?

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of police action on students in the Rajya Sabha, while Congress MP Shashi Tharoor termed the lathi charge on peaceful protesters as unjustified. Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav also reached Jantar Mantar along with the MPs and demonstrated in support of the students. The opposition alleges that the government is avoiding discussing the demands of the students, while the government says that the proceedings of the Parliament should run smoothly.